News Release

Wilmington, N.C. –  Coast Guard and Wilmington Fire Department personnel responded to a 60-foot private yacht sinking at the pier south of the Henrietta III on the Cape Fear River near downtown Wilmington at 8:23 a.m. Saturday.

The owner of the yacht hired Sea Tow to conduct recovery operations on the boat and it was removed at about 3 p.m. to Bennett Marina.

Station Oak Island and Marine Safety Unit Wilmington personnel deployed boom to contain any possible pollution that could have occurred. They recovered as much as a gallon of oil from the water.

"The Coast Guard takes a great deal of pride in the Wilmington community," said Petty Officer 1st Class Michael Lewis, a pollution responder for Marine Safety Unit Wilmington. "We are able to work with many state and local agencies to fulfill our role as stewards of the environment."