Boat's fate unknown after crew rescued

The fate of the Johanna Lenore, a fishing vessel abandoned in the ocean south of Shinnecock Inlet, was still unclear Thursday, a Coast Guard a spokeswoman said.

Four men were rescued from the 76-foot stern trawler Tuesday by a Coast Guard rescue helicopter, said Lt. J.G. Erin Dixon of the Coast Guard's Long Island Sound Sector in New Haven, Conn. But a decision on the fate of the vessel is being delayed because of rough seas, she said.

"We're working with the owner on salvaging the vessel," Dixon said. "Because of the sea conditions, we're not really sure yet if the vessel is overturned or it just totally sank."

The Johanna Lenore, out of Point Judith, R.I., sent a distress call at about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday that it was taking water, Dixon said, and a helicopter from the Coast Guard's Cape Cod Air Station responded in about 90 minutes.

The vessel's pumps were unable to handle the flooding, even after another nearby fishing vessel, the Shelby Ann, provided an additional pump.

The helicopter also lowered pumps, but the pumps were unable to keep up with the flooding because of high winds and rough seas.

The boat's crew then decided to abandon the vessel, and the helicopter lowered rescue baskets.

Dixon said the Johanna Lenore capsized about 35 to 40 miles south-southeast of Montauk, near the Shinnecock Inlet, after the fourth man was safely aboard the rescue helicopter.

There were no reported injuries to members of the vessel, she said.