Boat runs aground on Thames River in Norwich

Greg Smith, The Day, New London, Conn.
·1 min read

Aug. 4—NORWICH — A 38-foot boat ran aground early Thursday on a breakwater on the Thames River in Norwich.

The lone occupant of the boat was not injured.

The Norwich Fire Department responded at 6:13 a.m. to reports of a grounded boat taking on water. Firefighters, responding with two department boats, accessed the grounded boat from Coolidge Street, which is north of Trading Cove.

Norwich Fire Battalion Chief Greg Despathy said the boat appeared to have sustained some damage below the water line. With the help of a private towing service TowBoat US, Despathy said he expected the boat would be floated off the rocks at high tide.

Despathy said Department of Energy and Environmental Protection spill prevention officials placed booms in the water to contain any leaking fuel and a U.S. Coast Guard crew helped to pump out water from the boat.