Cabin cruiser escorted to safety after striking submerged object

Vessels from the Coast Guard and other agencies escorted to safety a 35-foot cabin cruiser with two passengers that took on water after striking a submerged object Monday morning.

A Coast Guard crew responded to a 9:45 a.m. radio distress call about a vessel taking on water near Jones Inlet.

Coast Guard officers said the vessel struck a submerged object east of Jones Inlet and about a half-mile offshore shortly before 10 a.m. The cabin cruiser had been headed for the inlet.

Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Hernan Ossandon said the strike punctured the right side of the boat. It was not clear what the submerged object was.

Bilge pumps maintained water level after the collision, and Coast Guard responders passed over a pump to the cruiser to use in case of further emergency, officials said.

The Coast Guard crew escorted the vessel to Freeport.

Neither of the two passengers on board the boat was injured. The Coast Guard did not identify them.

NYPD and Nassau Police also responded, Ossandon said.

With Laura Blasey

By Nicholas Spangler

nicholas.spangler@newsday.comspanglernewsday

Nicholas Spangler is a general assignment reporter and has worked at Newsday since 2010.