POINT PLEASANT, N.J.—The captain of a 71-foot fishing boat that sank off the central New Jersey coast early Wednesday has been charged with being drunk at the helm, state police said.
Shawn R. Rose, 44, of Wellfleet, Mass., was cited for operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and for refusing to take a Breathalyzer test, state police said. He was released on his own recognizance.
The Coast Guard said it received a call for assistance from the vessel Susan II, which was reported taking on water around 12:15 a.m. about a half-mile northeast of the Manasquan inlet's jetties. A rescue boat arrived and found three people -- including Rose -- in the water in survival suits. They were taken to an area hospital for evaluation, but were not seriously injured, authorities said.
The boat carried between 1,000 and 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel, Coast Guard Petty Officer Chris McLaughlin said. A small amount of diesel fuel and lubricating oil was released before divers from a salvage crew prevented further seepage by sealing the fuel tank vents.
McLaughlin said the released diesel fuel sent a 30-foot wide sheen about two miles south in the Atlantic Ocean, but officials said much of it evaporated quickly. However, environmental officials said the fuel stayed offshore and did not pose a hazard.
Beaches in nearby resort communities remained open and the spill was not expected to affect them during the holiday weekend, officials said.
Monte Rome, operating manager of Northstar II Fisheries Inc., a fishing fleet at Gloucester, Mass., told the Asbury Park Press of Neptune that the vessel was on its way out to sea on a daylong surf clamming trip.
Rome told the newspaper that the Susan II is believed to have experienced mechanical problems related to its autopilot function before it began taking on water.
"It doesn't appear that it hit anything," he said.
McLaughlin said a salvage company was being retained to raise the sunken vessel.
Rose could not be reached for comment. There was no published telephone listing for him in Wellfleet.
