Mayday Alert from Sinking Boat May Have Been False, Coast Guard Says

The Coast Guard reminds individuals that false distress calls place unnecessary risk on would-be rescuers and interfere with legitimate search and rescue cases.

File photo courtesy: U.S. Coast Guard

(SEATTLE) - The Coast Guard says crews responded to a mayday transmission today for a vessel taking on water in the vicinity of Kennewick, Washington.

They say the Coast Guard Sector Portland received a mayday transmission from a 19-foot green vessel reporting that it was taking on water with three people on board in the vicinity of Kennewick near the Pasco-Kennewick Cable Bridge at 11:00 AM.

Shortly after receiving this information, the Coast Guard Sector in Portland reportedly lost communications with the vessel at that time.

Coast Guard Sector Portland put out an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast to vessels in the area.

The Coast Guard Air Station at Astoria launched an HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew as well as a small boat crew from Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team (ANT) Kennwick.

The helicopter crew conducted an aerial search of the area with no results.

ANT Kennewick queried vessels in the area with no results. The Coast Guard reminds individuals that false distress calls place unnecessary risk on would-be rescuers and interfere with legitimate search and rescue cases.

False calls also cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. The Coast Guard says it costs approximately $1,200 per hour to operate a Coast Guard 47-foot motor lifeboat, while a helicopter or larger cutter may cost from $9,000 to $12,000 an hour.

Captain Mark D'Andrea, Chief of Response for the United States Coast Guard's Thirteenth District, stated: "False distress calls not only cost taxpayers money and place Coast Guard members at increased personal risk, but more importantly, they divert limited resources from mariners who are in actual distress."