Fishing vessel Three Girls caught fire on Sunday, leading six people to abandon ship around 100 miles east of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The 81-foot groundfish trawler had left Boston, Mass. for a fishing trip with four crew members, the captain, and a NOAA Fisheries observer onboard at the time of the accident.
The Coast Guard Sector Northern New England command center received the mayday call at about 8:56 p.m. from the Three Girls. “United States Coast Guard, this is the fishing vessel Three Girls. We are on fire. We are going to be abandoning ship.” The First Coast Guard District command center also told sources that it received an Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon from the trawler.
The Northern New England Sector's swift response led to a successful rescue operation. The quick-response cutter ship William Chadwick was rerouted to respond to the fire, and planes were launched to provide aerial support. According to the Coast Guard, at 10:30 p.m., all the Coast Guard resources, along with the Three Girls’ sister ship, Princess Lauren, arrived on the scene and confirmed that all six individuals were onboard a life raft, safe and sound.
A small boat was launched from the cutter ship to recover all six people, while the MH-60 Jayhawk plane stood by if urgent medical care was needed. By 11:30 p.m., all individuals were onboarding the William Chadwick with no major injuries reported. The crew of the cutter transferred the survivors to a pier in South Portland early Monday morning.
Lieutenant Commander Brent Lane of William Chadwick stated in the release, “I couldn’t be prouder of our crew’s swift response in this rescue. Their dedication and skill were crucial to the successful outcome, but it’s also a stark reminder of the importance of having the right safety equipment at all times. This rescue highlights that preparation and proper gear are as vital as the bravery and professionalism our team consistently displays.”
No further information has been released stating how the accident started.
