Authorities say two people aboard the Russell W. Peterson activated an electronic positioning radio beacon and reported that the boat was breaking up and taking on water about 14 miles off the coast.
A helicopter crew from the Coast Guard air station in Atlantic City, N.J., was on the scene, and two small boats from Cape May, N.J., and Ocean City, Md., were also en route.
The vessel, named after a former Delaware governor active in environmental issues, was christened in Wilmington just six weeks ago and was being used by Bluewater Wind LLC to study migratory bird routes. Bluewater is trying to win state approval to build an offshore wind farm that would supply electricity to Delmarva Power customers.
