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‘Rescued man had many violations’
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Posted on Apr 30 2008
The Tinian fisherman who was rescued Tuesday afternoon will be cited for several boating safety violations.
Department of Public Safety spokesperson Lei Ogumoro said yesterday that Joseph M. Cruz will be cited for having an expired boat registration and failure to have safety equipment/devices on board. He also did not have a VHF radio or visual signals onboard.
DPS was informed that the U.S. Navy Hilo chopper had spotted the boat and Cruz on Tuesday at 4:30pm around 36 miles northwest of the Tinian Harbor. The 41-year-old Cruz was airlifted and brought to the Commonwealth Health Center for treatment and observation. He was treated for dehydration and released.
Ogumoro said preliminary investigation showed that Cruz had dropped off three men on Goat Island at 11am that day.
The group agreed that at 1pm that day, Cruz would pick them up. When Cruz did not show up, one of the three men called Tinian DPS for help.
Tinian Boating Safety officers launched the Zodiac II rescue boat and headed to Goat Island, where they picked up the three fishermen. Ogumoro said all three fishermen were found in good condition.
Investigation showed that, after dropping off three men on Goat Island, Cruz had headed back to Tinian but the boat’s engine died on the way. After several attempts to jump start it, the vessel’s battery died and could not be restarted.
Ogumoro quoted Cruz as saying that he could not call for help as he had no VHF radio or any visual distress signal devices such as flares, flashlight, or a flag aboard the boat.
“The DPS Boating Safety Section advices all boaters that their vessels be equipped with a VHF radio, visual distress signal devices, life jackets and other safety equipment should an emergency occur,” she said.
Cruz was reported missing Monday night. Water and aerial search had been conducted to locate him.
The rescue teams were from the U.S. Coast Guard-Guam, Tinian DPS Boating Safety, Saipan Boating Safety, and the Commonwealth Ports Authority.
The U.S. Navy Hilo chopper initiated the aerial search.
Ogumoro earlier said Cruz was last seen operating a 17-foot blue and white bay liner boat bearing the number TCM-034.PU.
