GLOUCESTER, Mass. -- As a significant winter storm bears down on the East Coast, a rush is on to rescue a local lobster boat stranded at sea.

Right now, Coast Guard crews are facing wicked conditions as they try to tow the disabled vessel back to Gloucester.

The 77-foot fishing boat called the Michael and Kristen is being towed by Coast Guard cutter Escanaba. through high seas and winds that are making the rescue operation very complicated.

The cutter is only able to travel about 4 mph.

"Right now, they're dealing with 10-to 15-foot seas and 38 mph winds. We're in constant communication with our cutter. It's definitely a dangerous situation," said Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Lauren Jorgensen.

Salvatore Parisi, 25, of Gloucester, is one of five lobster men who was stranded about 200 miles off the coast of Nantucket. Parisi phoned home to say he and his crew mates were safe for the moment.

They have a working generator, he said, so they're just inside the cabin trying to stay warm. He said everyone is OK, but frustrated and disappointed. They'll be home for the holidays, but they're coming back empty-handed.

The Coast Guard expects everyone to make it back to port by Saturday morning.