45°
NORWALK, Conn. A "multiagency effort" kept a 34-foot motor yacht from sinking off a Westport Island on Friday evening, Norwalk Fire Deputy Chief Edward Prescott said.
Two people were rescued from the boat. The efforts also kept 100 gallons of diesel fuel from spilling into the harbor, while preventing the boat from becoming an obstacle to navigation.
The Old School hit the shoals off the eastern end of Cockenoe Island, just over the Norwalk border, and issued a Mayday at 4:30 p.m., Prescott said. The Westport Police Department's Marine Division was first on the scene and set to work with a pump to get the water out of the boat, Prescott said.
Three pumps were used to keep the boat afloat, including one from the Norwalk Fire Department and one from the salvage and sea towing company Sea Tow. Darien Marine Police also assisted.
It was towed to Cove Marina in East Norwalk, where workers hoisted it in a sling to get it out of the water.
The water never got too high in the boat, a Sea Tow worker said. It was 4 inches above the carpet in the bow and just touching the pans in the engine compartment.
The Westport Marine Division was investigating.
Updated at 11:07 p.m.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Fairfield and receive free news updates.
