DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police are investigating the capsizing of a commercial crabbing vessel Thursday afternoon. A release stated the vessel was swamped by high waves in rough waters off Port Mahon east of Dover in the Delaware Bay.
The vessel’s 34-year-old captain from Townsend and two crew members – a 38-year-old Townsend man and a 50-year-old man from Dover – were found clinging to the overturned crab boat after spending several hours in the water. All three were rescued by Little Creek Volunteer Fire Company. The vessel was righted and towed to dock by the Leipsic Volunteer Fire Company.
In addition to Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers and marine units from the Little Creek and Leipsic fire companies, responders included the Bowers Beach Fire Company marine unit and the Delaware State Police Aviation Unit.