BOSTON — The Coast Guard and several fire department crews are searching the Seekonk River, off the coast of Providence, R.I., after receiving a distress call Tuesday evening.
Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England received the Mayday call on VHF-FM radio channel 16 around 8:38 p.m., from an adult male who repeated Mayday three times.
Sector crews attempted to make contact with the caller, but did not receive any response.
The Coast Guard is issuing an urgent marine information broadcast, asking mariners in the area for assistance.
A 41-foot boat crew from Coast Guard Station Castle Hill and fire departments from Seekonk, East Providence and Cranston, R.I., are currently searching the river in the vicinity of Cold Spring Point.
The sector narrowed down the search area by using Rescue 21 to triangulate the caller’s position. Rescue 21 is the Coast Guard’s advanced command, control and communications system that uses direction-finding technology to improve the ability to assist mariners in distress and save lives.