SEATTLE — The U.S. Coast Guard is seeking the public’s help in
identifying a hoax caller that made multiple false distress calls
earlier this month in the Puget Sound area.
Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Service Puget Sound in Seattle received a
Mayday call via VHF-FM radio channel 14 around 11 p.m., May 31,
reporting that five people were donning life jackets and abandoning the
fishing vessel Bristol Maid, reported to be on fire in Lilliwaup Bay,
Hood Canal. No other communications were received.
First call
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound in Seattle issued an
Urgent Marine Information Broadcast, but did not receive any response.
Two Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crews from Coast Guard Air
Station Port Angeles, a Coast Guard 45-foot Response Boat — Medium crew
from Coast Guard Station Seattle, and a Mason County Sheriff’s Office
boatcrew completed multiple searches of the area, but found no signs of
distress. The cost of the search totaled approximately $138,000.
The search was suspended five hours after the initial call because no
signs of distress were found, no additional information was provided
and no missing persons were reported to the Coast Guard or local
authorities.
Watchstanders at VTS Puget Sound received a similar call via VHF-FM
radio channel 14 around 9 p.m. the following evening, reporting that two
adults and a child were donning life jackets and abandoning a vessel
taking on water between Hoodsport and Lilliwaup Bay on Hood Canal. The
reporting source initially referred to his vessel as Bristol Maid, the
same vessel reported to be in distress the previous night, but later
changed the name to Aleutian Beauty. No other communications were
received.
Second call
A Coast Guard Dolphin helicopter crew, Coast Guard RB-M crew, Mason
County Sheriff’s Office boatcrew and tribal fisheries boatcrew searched
for more than three hours without finding any signs of distress. The
cost of the search totaled approximately $71,059.
Officials believe the same caller placed a third false call to the Coast Guard around 10 p.m. on June 2.
Third call
“The Coast Guard takes every distress call seriously,” said Capt.
Michael W. Raymond, commander of Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound. “False
distress calls tie up valuable search assets and put our crews at risk.
They impede our ability to respond to real cases of distress where lives
may be in genuine peril.”
Making a false distress call is a federal felony with a maximum
penalty of up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, a $5,000 civil
penalty and possible reimbursement to the Coast Guard for the cost of
performing the search.
Boaters are reminded that they are responsible for the safety and
actions of their passengers and are encouraged to educate them about the
proper use of emergency equipment including a marine VHF radio.
Passengers, especially children, may not understand the consequences of
playing on the radio and reporting a false distress.
The Coast Guard Investigative Service is asking the public’s help in
identifying the person or people responsible for making these false
distress calls to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Anyone with information
regarding false distress calls is encouraged to contact the Coast Guard
13th District Command Center at 206-220-7003.
Source: http://coastguardnews.com
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