Atlantic Sapphire crew rescued from sinking boat

Three fishermen are safe and sound on dry land after being rescued at sea in the early hours of Dec. 14 after their vessel capsized and sank while fishing on Georges Bank.

The crew of the fishing dragger Atlantic Sapphire were rescued by the crew of the Angela O, another fish dragger. The home port for both vessels is the Dennis Point wharf in Lower West Pubnico.

Unconfirmed reports on the wharf indicate the crew of the Atlantic Sapphire had to abandon ship and take to a life raft to escape the sinking vessel.

The Angela O arrived back in port just before 2 p.m. Crew members from both vessels, some visibly upset, declined to comment on the sinking or the rescue.

The 18.6-metre Atlantic Sapphire was built in 2000 and is owned by Nova’s Finest Fisheries in Lower West Pubnico.