US Coast Guard rescued 113 people from a grounded charter vessel near Woods Hole, Massachusetts, at about 11:30 pm local time on Tuesday, July 14.
USCG Unit in Southeastern New England received an emergency call at 10:44 pm stating that the charter vesselĀ Pied Piper ran aground near Grassy Island in Great Harbor.
The crew informed that the vessel had 106 passengers and seven crewmembers aboard.
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USCG dispatched various rescue teams to the location, including two 45-foot Response Boat Medium crews from Station Woods Hole, a 29-foot Response Boat Small crew from Station Menemsha, and a 26-foot aids-to-navigation boat crew from Aids to Navigation Team Woods Hole.
At approximately 11:30 pm, all USCG rescuers were on scene with the Pied Piper and started disembarking passengers from the grounded ship.
Around midnight, the Coast Guard crews had safely transferred all passengers and crew to shore. At the Dyer's Dock in Woods Hole, the Coast Guard and Falmouth Police personnel, conducted passenger accountability.
The commander of Sector Southeastern New England Capt. John Kondratowicz said:
"Our top priority was the immediate safety and accountability of all passengers and crew aboard the Pied Piper. The exceptional response by our boat crews and the Falmouth Police department led to a quick and successful rescue."
There is no reports for injured people or pollution during the incident. What cause the grounding is still under investigation.
The Pied Piper was able to refloat and be towed back to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Dock due to the incoming high tide.