The Bright Morning Star, a 50-foot former eastern-rigged Novi scalloper, now pleasure boat, ran aground on the eastern shore of Damariscove Island shortly before 6 a.m. on Sunday, July 31.

Fortunately there were neither lives lost nor serious injuries incurred as a result of the marine emergency.

The boat's sole occupant, a 77-year-old man from Belfast, was treated and released from St. Andrews Hospital for minor injuries sustained in the accident.

A distress call from the vessel was received at 6 a.m., according to Boothbay Fire Chief Dick Spofford.

Immediately, members of the Boothbay Fire Department responded to the call as well as Boothbay Harbor Master Earl Brown and rescue personnel from the Coast Guard, Maine Marine Resources Patrol, and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

Responders found the vessel aground on the rock-bound east shore of Damariscove Island.

The boat's occupant had run into engine problems and while attending to the mechanical malfunction ran aground.

The boat's captain abandoned his vessel by taking the Novi's small punt, and with the assistance of the tiny aluminum dinghy's two-horse engine, motored three miles north to Ocean Point.

Upon arrival on the mainland, the boat's captain used an Ocean Point resident's phone, to call the Lincoln County Emergency Communications Center. An ambulance was dispatched to aid the Belfast boater.

Off Damariscove, Boothbay Fire Department personnel quickly contained the oil spill using booms and chemical suppressants to bide time until the arrival of the DEP's oil spill recovery team.

"We were lucky we had a fairly calm sea and a clear day to respond to the emergency," said Department of Marine Resources officer Troy Lewis.

Because of the rapid response of the Boothbay Fire Department and others, the local environment around Damariscove was spared the effects of an oil spill.

Chief Spofford wishes to thank Boothbay Harbor Fire Department Chief Glenn Townsend and Boothbay Harbor Harbor Master Earl Brown for their assistance in the emergency.