MIAMI – The Coast Guard assisted five boaters whose vessels became disabled about 37-miles east of Vero Beach, Fla., and 26 miles east of Hillsboro Inlet, Fla., late Saturday.
At 2:30 p.m. Saturday, the Coast Guard’s Rescuse Coordination Center in Miami received an E-Solution Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon EPRIB alert for the 28-foot vessel, Daddy’s Dream, 37-miles off Vero Beach. An HH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Miami was dispatched and once on scene, the Dolphin aircrew was able to confirm the vessel was disabled and drifting, but in no immediate danger. Commercial salvage was notified, but was unable to respond and assist due to the distance offshore. The Coast Guard Cutter Shrike was launched, and once on scene, brought the three boaters aboard and placed Daddy’s Dream in tow. The vessel and its crew all were safely returned to Port Canaveral, Fla., Sunday afternoon.
At 5:49 p.m. Saturday, family members reported two boaters making a trip from Hillsboro Inlet to Bimini, Bahamas, aboard a 21-foot Sea Pro overdue. The Coast Guard diverted an HU-25 Falcon fixed wing aircraft crew from Coast Guard Air Station Miami and the cutter Key Biscayne to search. Due to size of the search area, a C-130 Hecules was dispatched from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Fla., to assist. The C-130 crew located the 21-foot vessel early Sunday morning seven hours after the family reported the two boaters missing. The Key Biscayne took the vessel in tow and safely returned all to shore.
“While the outcome of both of these cases was postive, the value of an EPIRB can not be understated,” said Coast Guard Capt. Drew Pearson, who oversees the Rescue Coordination Center. “Yesterday the real-time position information provided by the EPIRB aboard Daddy’s Dream helped us locate the vessel within 1.5 hours. EPIRBs take the search out of search and rescue and save lives as well as tax-payer dollars.”
The cutter Shrike is an 87-foot patrol boat homeported in Port Canaveral.
The cutter Key Biscayne is a 110-foot coastal patrol boat homeported in Key West, Fla.
