Three, Including Brick Man, Rescued from Capsized Boat in Inlet

A 70-foot commercial fishing vessel is stuck in rocks in the Manasquan Inlet after capsizing early Tuesday morning, but the Coast Guard reports they rescued three crew members who are unharmed.

William Hill, 58, of Brick, Matthew Morris, 19, of Point Pleasant, and William A. Lewis, 30, of Marshallberg, N.C., were rescued and declined medical treatment after their boat slammed into rocks on the Point Pleasant Beach side of the inlet, said Coast Guard Petty Officer First Class Brian  Martin.

The problem started when the fishing vessel, the Atlantic Traveler, was outbound and a hydraulic hose broke, causing the boat to lose steering, Martin said.

The crew called the Coast Guard by radio at 4:53 a.m., reporting they were heading towards the south jetty, which is on the Point Beach side. By 5 a.m., a 47-foot Coast Guard Motor Life Boat arrived on the scene, hooked up a three and a quarter inch, double-braided nylon line and, at 5:03 a.m., tried towing the vessel, Martin said.

At 5:06 a.m. the Traveler hit the south jetty and waves knocked the boat up onto the rocks, Martin said. As the boat began slipping down the rocks, the Coast Guard line broke under the strain and the boat slid down and capsized, Martin said.

When the boat capsized, the Coast Guard was already on the scene and pulled them out of the water which was about 52 degrees, Martin said.

They crewmembers went home to change clothes and are expected to return shortly to the Coast Guard station to assist in the investigation, Martin said at 9:20 a.m.

The vessel had 3,000 gallons of diesel fuel and 350 gallons of oil on board, Martin said. So far, a minimal amount of diesel fuel and oil have leaked out, Martin said.

The Coast Guard has been working to contain the spills and its safety unit, which just arrived from Philadelphia at about 8:40 a.m., is ready to move on scene to skim the fuel and oil from the water, Martin said.

The Coast Guard is continuing to investigate the accident and is keeping the inlet closed to all boat traffic, pending a decision to re-open by the Captain of the Port, Martin said. That office, based in Philadelphia, oversees marine traffic from Manasquan to the Indian River in Delaware.

A tug and barge will be needed to dislodge the boat from the rocks and it is not yet known when they will be on scene, Martin said.

The state Department of Environmental Protection, state police, Point Pleasant Beach police and Tow Boat US are assisting in the clean-up and investigation.

This breaking news story will be updated throughout the day. Please keep checking Patch for more news.