The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating the sinking of a commercial fishing vessel Friday night off Rockland in which three fishermen were rescued.

Rescuers and a good samaritan responded following a distress call from the 38-foot Miss Jill, east of Owl’s Head State Park.

Coast Guard Sector Northern New England received a mayday call that the vessel was sinking at 8:40 p.m. and three mariners were abandoning ship and getting into a life raft.

Coast Guard Station Rockland rescue crews launched a 47-foot Motor Life Boat to the last reported location. An Urgent Marine Information Broadcast was issued, alerting any boats in the vicinity to provide assistance.

A 30-foot fishing vessel, the Rising Sun, was in the immediate area and plucked the mariners in their life raft from the water.

“It’s fortunate the Rising Sun crew was close by to assist the mariners,” said Chris Berry, a Coast Guard Sector Northern New England operational unit controller. “This shows the great camaraderie of a tight-knit maritime community.”

The Miss Jill sank in 400 feet of water. Seas were calm and winds were light at the time of th accident.