SEATTLE – The Coast Guard responded to a boat fire aboard the 31-foot recreational vessel Farallon near Gedney Island, Wash., Wednesday.
The operator of Farallon, Mike Watson, departed the vessel on a life raft moments after transmitting a distress call on VHF channel-16 notifying the Coast Guard that his vessel was ablaze. He was the only person on board.
The recreational vessel Morning Star located Watson in a dingy after hearing a marine assistance request broadcast transmitted by Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound. Watson was taken aboard the Morning Star and transferred to a Hat Island Fire crew vessel. He was then transported to Everett, Wash., with no reported injuries.
A response boat crew from Coast Guard Station Seattle maintained a safety zone, keeping other boaters a safe distance from the burning vessel as it sank. A Coast Guard MH-65C Dolphin helicopter crew conducted an over flight of the scene.
The Coast Guard reminds all boat owners and operators, passengers and children to wear life jackets, never boat under the influence, complete boating safety courses and get free vessel safety checks annually from local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
