PENOBSCOT BAY — Two fishermen aboard the 35-foot Loretta, homeport Matinicus Island, were rescued this morning, Feb. 14, at approximately 9 a.m. by the crew aboard the Capt. Charles Philbrook ferry, which runs from Rockland to Vinalhaven.

The distress call was made as the two men put on their submersible survival suits and were in the water, according to U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer LaNola Stone.

The Loretta was south of Monroe Island when it began to take on water, and then sunk.

Luckily, the Philbrook, which was near the scene, dispatched a small boat and picked up the men. They were then transported via a 47-foot Coast Guard response boat from Station Rockland.

Both men are reported to be all right, and were being tended to in Rockland by emergency medical responders.

“Everyone is fine,” said Stone.

Air temperature was 5 degrees, water temperature 38 degrees, and the winds were 5 to 10 knots.

It is not known why the boat sank, but it went down quickly, according to the Coast Guard.

The fishermen were trying to beach the boat on Monroe Island after they realized they were taking on water.

Chuck Holzhauer and Joshua Ripton from the Philbrook climbed into the rescue boat to pull the fishermen from the water. The captain of the Philbrook is Peter Drury.

“The Coast Guard credits the quick response of the fishermen to immediately putting on the survival suits and relay a distress call,” said Stone. 

This story will be updated when more details become available.

Reach Editorial Director Lynda Clancy at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6657