Susan Rose Sinks Off Jersey Coast

Last week, the tranquil shores of Point Pleasant Beach were disrupted when a 77-foot commercial fishing boat, the Susan Rose, ran aground just three blocks from the Manasquan Inlet.

What started as a grounding mishap turned into a full-fledged maritime drama, culminating in the vessel’s sinking during a tow operation, according to a statement by U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer First Class Matthew West on Sunday.

The Coast Guard’s involvement began when a report of the beached boat reached them shortly before 5 a.m. last Friday. Tireless efforts by dedicated crews persisted throughout Saturday as they worked to refloat the stranded vessel.

However, the situation took a dire turn as a salvage company began towing the Susan Rose away, only for it to succumb to the depths in 48 feet of water around 2 a.m. on Sunday.

The silver lining in this maritime misfortune is the absence of any crew members on board during the sinking, averting potential tragedy.

Nonetheless, the Coast Guard promptly issued a notice to mariners about the submerged hazard, taking precautionary measures by deploying a buoy near the sunken wreckage. Petty Officer West assured the public that marine traffic into the inlet remains unaffected.

While the incident did cause one boat to become entangled in fishing lines from the Susan Rose, swift action by the Coast Guard ensured the entangled vessel continued its journey without further complications.

Notably, prior to the ill-fated tow, oil and gas had been successfully pumped off the Susan Rose, mitigating environmental concerns.

The initial rescue mission on Friday saw firefighters and emergency medical workers saving three individuals from the stranded vessel, with a fourth already safely ashore.

The cause of the grounding is currently under investigation, and the salvage company is formulating a plan for the removal of the sunken boat from the water.

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