Deep-sea fishing boat evacuated after smoke fills engine room

By Christine Legere and Casey Ramsdell, Globe Correspondents

A deep-sea fishing vessel based in Plymouth was safely evacuated around 8:30 a.m. today after its engine room filled with smoke. The 77-foot Capt. John & Son, was six miles off of Gurnet Light and was carrying 36 passengers, the Coast Guard said.

Five Coast Guard boats responded to the scene as well several good Samaritan vessels, the Coast Guard said in a statement.

The passengers aboard the vessel were transferred onto the company's sister ship, Tails of the Sea, a whale watching boat, which continued on its excursion. No injuries were reported. The vessel was towed back to Plymouth, the Coast Guard said.

While many passengers were content with the whale watch tour, Paul Allen of Raynham was not.

As he stood in line to get his $60 fee back, he said, "I came to fish, not to watch whales."

The smoke was caused by an oil leak in the engine room, but the crew was able to contain it before it burst into flames, said Petty Officer Lauren Jorgensen, a Coast Guard spokeswoman.

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