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DPS reports two cases of boats in distress, 1 that capsized in March
The Boating Safety unit of the Department of Public Safety is encouraging all boaters to take extra time to make sure you keep up with boat maintenance and have all safety equipment readily available on your boat.
The unit gave the reminder in the wake of two separate reported distressed boat calls and one capsized boat report in March this year.
According to a Boating Safety report, DPS 911 dispatch received a call via cellphone on March 20, 2023, at about 9:41am, of a reported boat in distress between Saipan and Tinian.
At about 9:59am, responding officers located the distressed boat, checked on the conditions of occupants, and towed the distressed boat back to Smiling Cove Marina. Upon further investigation, it was learned that the boat operator could not get the boat engine to start after several attempts. That’s when they made the 911 call for assistance.
Separately, on March 26, 2023, at about 1:08pm, DPS 911 dispatch received a call via cellphone of a reported capsized vessel outside the Managaha Island reef line on Saipan. The caller stated that two occupants were onboard the boat.
Responding officers arrived at the location of the capsized boat at about 1:28pm and secured the two occupants. Boating Safety officers proceeded to bail water out of the vessel. At about 2:09pm, officers towed the distressed boat back to Smiling Cove Marina. Upon further investigation, it was learned that the two occupants were open-water fishing north of Managaha when a huge wave hit them and caused their boat to capsize. (PR)
On March 29, 2023, at about 12:10pm, DPS Boating Safety received a call from a distressed vessel west of Tinian. Responding officers arrived and linked with the distressed boat at about 12:42pm. All occupants were in good condition. Officers secured and towed them back to Smiling Cove Marina, arriving at the marina at about 2:49pm. Upon further investigation, the officer learned that the boat captain could not get the engine to start after several attempts. The boat captain was issued a citation for failing to have complete safety equipment aboard the boat. (PR)
