"Sponge Bob" Saves Sinking Vessel

Ropetow · 09-19-2007, 07:48 PM

Not on the Big Lake, but still kind of interesting....

Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard First District

Press Release

Date: Sept. 19, 2007

Contact: Petty Officer Luke Pinneo
(617) 223-8515
Sponge Bob 'stops up' sinking vessel
**Photos available**

BOSTON - A Coast Guard rescue crew called upon Sponge Bob Square Pants for help in a tight situation aboard a Gloucester-based vessel sinking near Gloucester Harbor around 7:15 p.m., Saturday.

The four man crew of the 25-foot Clam Juice contacted Coast Guard Station Gloucester via VHF radio channel 16 to report their vessel was rapidly taking on water just off Ten Pound Island.

The Coast Guard launched a 25-foot response boat and rescue crew from Station Gloucester, which arrived on scene within minutes, and removed two crewmembers from the Clam Juice. Two Coast Guard crewmembers boarded the Clam Juice with a dewatering pump and began pumping the estimated 2,000 gallons of water out of the sinking vessel.

Upon dewatering the vessel, a large crack in the vessel's exhaust pipe was revealed as the source of the flooding. The best solution was to plug the exhaust hole externally with a round object, and rescuers began searching the vessel for something that fit the bill.

"I wish we had our football," said Petty Officer Second Class Daniel Bartholomew of the rescue crew. Finally, a crewmember aboard the Clam Juice grabbed a Sponge Bob Nerf football that was down below.

True to Sponge Bob's character, the squishy football sealed the hole perfectly and allowed the Clam Juice to be towed to Browns Yacht Yard for more permanent repairs.

No injuries were reported of the four crewmembers. Sponge Bob served his duty and returned to port without a scratch.

"Luckily, Sponge Bob got a day off so he was available to assist us with this rescue," said Chief Petty Officer Paul Wells, executive petty officer at Station Gloucester.

### U.S. Coast Guard: Saving Lives Since 1790 ###

secondcurve · 09-19-2007, 08:10 PM

I always carry bungs (cork type stoppers) in case of an emergencey with my scuppers. I have a self bailing boat. You never know what you will need or when, so it is good to have a variety of safety items as the above refrenced article clearly illustartes.

LIforrelaxin · 09-19-2007, 09:43 PM

I wonder what equipment the Marine Patrol carries with them. Do they have water pumps on board to help out a sinking boat if they arrive in time?

SIKSUKR · 09-20-2007, 08:40 AM

Saw the boat on a Boston news channel last night.Pretty funny seeing the nerf football sticking out the side of the boat.Old yankee ingenuity.Oops,I probably shouldn't say the word yankee right now.

Weirs guy · 09-20-2007, 11:09 AM

... Patrick was unavailable for comment...

09-19-2007, 07:48 PM	#1
Ropetow Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Rochester, NH / Bartlett, NH Posts: 322 Thanks: 228 Thanked 33 Times in 13 Posts	"Sponge Bob" Saves Sinking Vessel Not on the Big Lake, but still kind of interesting.... Office of Public Affairs U.S. Coast Guard First District Press Release Date: Sept. 19, 2007 Contact: Petty Officer Luke Pinneo (617) 223-8515 Sponge Bob 'stops up' sinking vessel Photos available BOSTON - A Coast Guard rescue crew called upon Sponge Bob Square Pants for help in a tight situation aboard a Gloucester-based vessel sinking near Gloucester Harbor around 7:15 p.m., Saturday. The four man crew of the 25-foot Clam Juice contacted Coast Guard Station Gloucester via VHF radio channel 16 to report their vessel was rapidly taking on water just off Ten Pound Island. The Coast Guard launched a 25-foot response boat and rescue crew from Station Gloucester, which arrived on scene within minutes, and removed two crewmembers from the Clam Juice. Two Coast Guard crewmembers boarded the Clam Juice with a dewatering pump and began pumping the estimated 2,000 gallons of water out of the sinking vessel. Upon dewatering the vessel, a large crack in the vessel's exhaust pipe was revealed as the source of the flooding. The best solution was to plug the exhaust hole externally with a round object, and rescuers began searching the vessel for something that fit the bill. "I wish we had our football," said Petty Officer Second Class Daniel Bartholomew of the rescue crew. Finally, a crewmember aboard the Clam Juice grabbed a Sponge Bob Nerf football that was down below. True to Sponge Bob's character, the squishy football sealed the hole perfectly and allowed the Clam Juice to be towed to Browns Yacht Yard for more permanent repairs. No injuries were reported of the four crewmembers. Sponge Bob served his duty and returned to port without a scratch. "Luckily, Sponge Bob got a day off so he was available to assist us with this rescue," said Chief Petty Officer Paul Wells, executive petty officer at Station Gloucester. ### U.S. Coast Guard: Saving Lives Since 1790 ###

09-19-2007, 09:43 PM	#3
LIforrelaxin Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Long Island, not that one, the one on Winnipesaukee Posts: 2,827 Thanks: 1,017 Thanked 881 Times in 515 Posts	Hummm I wonder what equipment the Marine Patrol carries with them. Do they have water pumps on board to help out a sinking boat if they arrive in time? __________________ Life is about how much time you can spend relaxing... I do it on an island that isn't really an island.....

09-20-2007, 08:40 AM	#4
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	Saw the boat on a Boston news channel last night.Pretty funny seeing the nerf football sticking out the side of the boat.Old yankee ingenuity.Oops,I probably shouldn't say the word yankee right now. __________________ SIKSUKR

09-20-2007, 11:09 AM	#5
Weirs guy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Weirs Beach, NH Posts: 1,067 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	... Patrick was unavailable for comment... __________________ Is it bikeweek yet? Now?

09-19-2007, 08:10 PM	#2
secondcurve Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2,084 Thanks: 1,267 Thanked 557 Times in 286 Posts	I always carry bungs (cork type stoppers) in case of an emergencey with my scuppers. I have a self bailing boat. You never know what you will need or when, so it is good to have a variety of safety items as the above refrenced article clearly illustartes.