Fishers Island, N.Y. — Two fishermen aboard a Long Island-based commercial fishing boat were rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard Sunday morning just before their vessel sank off Fishers Island.

The uninjured fishermen, who were not identified by the Coast Guard, were rescued from their boat just minutes before it capsized, the Coast Guard said in a press release Sunday. Both were taken to Coast Guard Station New London.

Their boat, a 55-foot commercial fishing vessel homeported in Hampton Bays, N.Y., sank in about 60 feet of water.

At approximately 7:30 a.m., the Coast Guard dispatched two rescue boats from its Montauk and New London stations after receiving a radio call from the crew saying their boat was taking on water.

The rescue boat from Montauk arrived at the fishing boat's location around 8:20 a.m. followed by the New London rescue boat at 9:15 a.m., officials said.

The Coast Guard crews passed a pump to the two fishermen. The pump was unable to keep up with the flooding, and at 9:30 a.m., both fishermen abandoned their boat before being taken aboard the New London-based Coast Guard vessel. Both fishermen were wearing survival suits, the Coast Guard said.

“This incident highlights how critical it is to have appropriate safety gear, emergency radio beacons, life jackets, and survival suits,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jesse Diaz, search and rescue mission coordinator for Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound. “Anything can go wrong at sea, even if you’re a professional mariner. The safety gear saved the lives of these crewmembers today.”

m.biekert@theday.com