Friday's Hoak Call to Coast Guard Traced

On Friday, September 14, the Coast Guard received a cell phone call, reporting a sinking vessel "south" of Boston Light. On Saturday morning, the Coast Guard made the following press release:

"Probable Hoax Call Ties Up Coast Guard Rescuers, Equipment - Puts Other Mariners At Risk

BOSTON - The Coast Guard responded to a 911 distress call in which the caller claimed to be on a sinking pleasure craft one mile south of Boston Light around 8 p.m., Friday, in what rescuers believe is likely a hoax.
Coast Guard Sector Boston received a 911 relay call from state police reporting a 27-foot Cabo Express was taking on water with four people on board wearing life jackets.
The caller stated he had flares, but they were water logged, and the vessel had two feet of water on deck.
Coast Guard Station Point Allerton launched a 41-foot boat, which arrived on scene around 8:15 p.m., and Air Station Cape Cod launched a Jayhawk rescue helicopter, which arrived on scene about 8:50 p.m.
The helicopter crew searched the area around Boston Light, as well as two other lighthouses in the area, but found no trace of a vessel in distress.
The Station Point Allerton crew fired an illuminating parachute flare to aid in the search. The boat crew also searched near Winthrop Marina, the vessel's declared homeport, but found no signs of the vessel.
The helicopter crew dedicated almost five hours to the search, and the boat crew searched for nearly four hours, each covering an area of about 30 square miles.
Hoax distress calls placed to the Coast Guard are classified as a felony punishable by up to six years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
The case is under investigation by Coast Guard Investigative Service, with assistance from the Massachusetts State Police, as a probable hoax.

"Our number one priority in search and rescue cases is getting our emergency units to the scene as quickly as possible, operating under the assumption that the distress is genuine," said Lt. Aurora Fleming, First Coast Guard District Command Center duty officer. "Hoax distress calls generate pointless searches that reduce the Coast Guard's ability to rescue mariners in true distress, senselessly putting lives at risk."



Anyone who has spent any time on or about the water, knows how important a quick response is to any emergency call. Hoax calls, beside being expensive, divert the attention and energies of the reponders.


Now, this afternoon, the alleged perpertrator of the hoax call has been found. In another release, made just after 5 pm this afternoon, the Coast Guard made this follow up press release:

"Hoax Distress Call Source Traced -

BOSTON - Coast Guard Investigative Services and Massachusetts State Police have pin pointed the source of a fake distress call made to the Coast Guard here Friday night. The Coast Guard responded at 8 p.m., to a 911 distress call in which the caller claimed to be on a sinking pleasure craft one mile south of Boston Light.
The caller stated he had flares, but they were water logged, and the vessel had two feet of water on deck.
The Coast Guard launched a 41-foot rescue boat crew from Station Point Allerton and a Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Cape Cod. With no other signs of a distressed mariner, and after nearly five hours of searching an area about 30 square miles wide, the search was called off. The Massachusetts State Police traced the call to a cell phone and was able to locate the owner, confirming there was no distress.
The cost of the search, taking into account man hours, equipment use and fuel consumption, is estimated at nearly $30,000. "Our number one priority in search and rescue cases is getting our emergency units to the scene as quickly as possible, operating under the assumption that the distress is genuine," said Lt. Aurora Fleming, First Coast Guard District Command Center duty officer. "Hoax distress calls generate pointless searches that reduce the Coast Guard's ability to rescue mariners in true distress, senselessly putting lives at risk."
The case and identity of the actual caller is being investigated by the Coast Guard. Hoax calls placed to the Coast Guard are classified as a felony and are punishable by up to six years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Reimbursement of the cost of the search is also possible.
Hoax distress call source traced

The Coast Guard has provide a link to to the TAPE OF THE CALL

Flotilla 12-04 of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Offers a Public Boating Class, “Boating Skills and Seamanship” - October 14th, Braintree, MA

Flotilla 12-04 of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is offering a public boating course, “Boating Skills and Seamanship”. Classes will be held on Sunday mornings, from 9:30 – 11:30 am, starting October 14th. Classes will held at the Metropolitan Yacht Club, 39 Vinedale Road, Braintree, MA. This course, which is approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), will be an 8-lesson course with an optional additional 2 weeks for plotting/piloting. The fee of the course is $50 which includes the text and materials. Call Bill Fuller, 781-848-2906 or email for information and to enroll.