Coast Guard Cutter Block Island Releases Turtles

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The crew aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Block Island assisted the North Carolina Wildlife Commission to return more than 50 endangered sea turtles to the ocean 40-miles east of Beaufort Inlet, N.C., Friday.

The crew released 17 juvenile loggerhead and green turtles and 39 loggerhead hatchlings into the waters of the Gulf Stream.

The largest turtle released was a juvenile loggerhead that weight approximately 130 pounds.  Several of the sea turtles were tagged with transmitters that will allow aquariums to monitor them in the wild.

The safe release of these turtles is part of the Coast Guard’s broader effort to protect living marine resources.

The Block Island is a 110-foot Island Class patrol boat homeported in Atlantic Beach, N.C.

Disabled Fishing Vessel 12 miles Off Cape Hatteras, NC

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard assisted five people aboard a 54-foot fishing boat Wednesday after the fishing boat became disabled and adrift approximately 12 miles south of Cape Hatteras, N.C.

The operator of the fishing boat Blue Fin contacted Coast Guard Sector North Carolina watchstanders at approximately 7 a.m. and requested assistance.

Sector North Carolina watchstanders issued a marine assistance request broadcast and did not receive a response. Since commercial assistance was unable to respond that far offshore, watchstanders dispatched a crew aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Block Island, a 110-foot patrol boat homeported in Atlantic Beach, N.C., to assist.

The Block Island and crew arrived on scene at approximately 10:30 a.m. and began towing the fishing boat to Oregon Inlet. The Blue Fin is expected to arrive at the Willie R. Etheridge Seafood Company in Wanchese, N.C., around 5 a.m. Thursday.