How an alert captain survived a lobster boat fire
A 28-foot-long wooden lobster boat caught fire and eventually sank Friday morning off of Ipswich Town Wharf, according to police.
The boat’s captain was hauling lobster traps when he noticed a fire had broken out on board and called the U.S. Coast Guard for help. He then put on an emergency suit, took supplies and a portable radio in a waterproof bag, and jumped off the boat, police said. He used buoys to stay afloat while he waited for help to arrive.
The captain was rescued by another ship and left the scene uninjured, but his boat was destroyed in the fire, sinking off Emerson’s Rocks near Plum Island, according to police.
“In this case, the captain is to be commended by being extremely well-prepared for this incident by following all the correct emergency procedures and having the right radio and survival equipment on board,’’ Ipswich Police Chief Paul Nikas said. “Thankfully he was not injured, and we want to use this incident as a reminder to all boaters on the importance of proper preparations and having the necessary safety gear on board.’’
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