CASTINE – The master and crew of Maine Maritime Academy’s tugboat Pentagoet were honored recently for outstanding service to fellow mariners in peril in a letter of appreciation from U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Harry E. Haynes, commander, Group Southwest Harbor.

The letter recognized Capt. Tim Leach, master of the vessel, Harry Stevens, mate engineer, and Sander Parker, MMA student crewmember, for their assistance to the Coast Guard in voluntarily responding to the aid of the disabled tug and barge, Mackenzie Ryan.

At 5 a.m. Nov. 20, the crew of the Pentagoet responded to a mayday call from the Mackenzie Ryan, which was disabled and whose barge was adrift with a crewman on board.

Along with the Coast Guard, the Pentagoet helped tow the Mackenzie Ryan and its barge to Castine without any damage or injuries.