Same boat, new story

Captains,

I suppose every commercial vessel has its own story. This fishing vessel, the Damariscotta (former Heather Lynne II) has more than its share. This week it made the news again. Fortunately its crew survived this time.

RADM W

POINT JUDITH, Rhode Island -- U.S. Coast Guard crews rescued two mariners after the fishing vessel Damariscotta sank near Point Judith, Jan. 3, 2011.

Coast Guard crews recovered the mariners after escorting the 45-foot vessel seven miles into Point Judith Harbor.

Coast Guard crews have deemed the sunken vessel clear of channel traffic, but are marking the location of the vessel to avoid any hazard to navigation. Pollution investigators are on scene to monitor any risk of pollution and have used oil boom to secure any leaks from the vessel. The vessel owner has hired a private company to clean any oil and are creating a salvage plan.

January 5, 2011

Former Newburyport fishing vessel meets with fate, again

By Lynne HendricksStaff Writer

PORT JUDITH, R.I. — The sea has claimed the Heather Lynne II, for a second time.

Almost two decades ago, the 45-foot fishing vessel was a star in Newburyport's fishing fleet, harvesting its catches from the rich shoals off Cape Ann.

But in the early hours of a September 1996 morning, tragedy claimed the lives of its three local crew members - Jeffrey Hutchins, Kevin Foster and John Michael Lowther — when the vessel collided with a steel tow line that connected a barge to a towboat. The Heather Lynne capsized, and its crew drowned.

However it didn't sink - the boat righted itself, was brought back to Salisbury, restored and eventually renamed the Damariscotta, and continued to fish.

Monday it once again met with fate. It sunk in just 12 feet of water some 30 yards from a public dock in Galilee, R.I. as owner Brian Loftes of South Kingston, R.I., and a crew member sought to hobble the boat into port after it began taking on water seven miles offshore. It is expected to be raised and salvaged, again.