CLEARWATER, Fla. – Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg crews responded to multiple cases throughout the week after receiving, a combined, 17 distress and marine safety calls.
Throughout the week, Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders received requests for help from several disabled vessels resulting in the rescue of 14 boaters. In one case, an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon alert and mayday call were made, allowing a Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater aircrew to locate the vessel.
Monday
Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders received a distress call from three people aboard a disabled 20-foot vessel 22 miles west of Egmont Key, Monday around 3:30 p.m. A Coast Guard Station Cortez boat crew located the vessel around 7:45 p.m. and towed it to Egmont Channel. An Eckerd College Search and Rescue boat crew completed the tow from Egmont Channel to the Fort De Soto Boat Ramp. No injuries were reported.
Tuesday
Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders were contacted, Tuesday around 3:30 p.m., by Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office dispatch reporting a person aboard a disabled personal watercraft, in the vicinity of the Courtney Campbell Causeway. A Coast Guard Station St. Petersburg boat crew safely retrieved the person and towed the personal watercraft to Courtney Campbell Boat Ramp. No injuries were reported.
Thursday
Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders were contacted, Thursday around 1:45 p.m., by Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office dispatch reporting three people aboard a disabled 21-foot vessel 14 miles west of Egmont Key. A Coast Guard Station St. Petersburg boat crew located the three people aboard the out-of-fuel vessel, around 3:15 p.m., and towed the vessel to Egmont Channel. An Eckerd College Search and Rescue boat crew completed the tow from Egmont Channel to Fort De Soto Boat Ramp. No injuries were reported.
Sector St. Petersburg and Coast Guard Seventh District watchstanders received an EPIRB alert and mayday call, Thursday around 2 p.m., from four people aboard a 30-foot vessel, 30 miles west of Venice. A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater aircrew located the four people, around 3 p.m., aboard the vessel, which had sustained a loss of steering. A Coast Guard Station Cortez boat crew fixed the steering casualty and escorted the vessel to Station Cortez. No injuries were reported.
Friday, April 12-16
Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders received a mayday call, Friday, April 12, around 11 p.m., from three people reporting that their 47-foot commercial fishing vessel was sinking, 1 mile southwest of Johns Pass. A Coast Guard Station St. Petersburg boat crew recovered all three people floating next to their partially submerged and aground vessel, at around 11:10 p.m., then transported them to Johns Pass Marina to receive higher-level care from emergency medical services. No injuries were reported. The mariners coordinated their vessel’s recovery with commercial salvage and had 605 gallons of diesel pumped, Monday, from the vessel’s fuel tank. The vessel was towed, Tuesday, to Snug Harbor Boatworks. No pollution was reported.
“Coordination between partner agencies and the proper use of emergency communication devices led to the successful rescue of 14 boaters throughout the week,” said Capt. Michael P. Kahle, commander of Sector St. Petersburg. “Not only does this display our crews’ exceptional capabilities, but also how important it is to have a communication device on your vessel. Having a working marine VHF radio, a well-charged cellphone in a waterproof case and a properly registered EPIRB and PLB, can and will help save your life in a time of distress."
For breaking news, follow us on X. For additional information, find us on Facebook and Instagram.
-USCG-