The Coast Guard assisted a sportsfishing vessel that started taking on water in Oregon Inlet over the weekend.
The Station Oregon Inlet Watchstander received a report Saturday at 3:51 p.m. on VHF channel 16 from the 55-foot “Charisma” anchored and taking on water with seven people on board on the west side of the Marc Basnight Bridge.
Charisma reported that they had one engine still running, no steering, and an auxiliary pump running but it couldn’t keep up with the water flooding in from their rudder falling out.
A 47-foot Motor Lifeboat Crew was immediately dispatched. Once on scene the MLB took five of the Charisma’s passengers on board and then sent a Coast Guard crewman over to operate an additional dewatering pump.
After getting the flooding under control, the Charisma was put into a side tow and transported for hauled out in Wanchese.
“The Charisma was largely helped by having its own operable radios, bilge pumps and the ability to anchor,” according to a post on Coast Guard Station Oregon Inlet’s Facebook page.