MIAMI — Five people were rescued from a disabled 29-foot boat by the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Diamondback approximately 15 miles east of Miami Beach, Fla., Thursday afternoon.
The boat lost one of its two engines, ran out of gas, and became disabled in 9-foot sea swells.
Coast Guard Sector Miami watchstanders were notified shortly after 8 a.m. that the vessel was disabled. The crew of the 87-foot, Miami Beach-based cutter Diamondback arrived on scene at approximately 12:30 p.m., and took the vessel in tow.
According to the report, the five individuals aboard the vessel were wearing life jackets. However, the vessel was not equipped with an Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB).
The Coast Guard strongly encourages all boaters to use multiple forms of safety of gear, such as:
- Life jackets
- EPIRBs
- VHF-FM radios (cell phones aren’t always reliable offshore)
- Distress signals (flares, signaling mirrors)
- Sound-producing devices (air horns, whistles)
Boaters are also strongly encouraged to file a float plan before heading out to sea. For more information on boating safety, visit www.uscgboating.org.
“Upon arriving on scene with the vessel, I evaluated the deteriorating weather conditions and made the challenging decision to place the vessel in tow to prevent it from capsizing,” said Lt. Emily Rose, commanding officer, cutter Diamondback. “Partnering with commercial salvage, we ensured all five people were brought safely back to land. Saving lives is what members of the Coast Guard do every day.”
