DATE: October 27, 2004 3:18:48 PM EDT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard Seventh District |
| Press Release |
Date:
Oct. 27, 2004
Contact:
(727) 429-1759 |
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COAST GUARD ASSISTS BOATERS TAKING ON WATER NEAR SKYWAY
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Crews from U.S. Coast Guard Station St. Petersburg responded to a call from two boaters on board a 19-foot vessel taking on water one mile northeast of the Skyway Bridge this afternoon.
The boaters, Joe and Steve Palardis of Tampa, and their two dogs Bobo and Bull, were spending the day fishing near the bridge when their bilge pump stopped working and their boat began taking on water. They called 911 using their cell phone at 1:30 p.m.
Coast Guard Station St. Petersburg immediately responded, dispatching two 25-foot rescue boats to the location of the sinking vessel. Within 15 minutes the Coast Guard crews were on-scene with the boats and transferred a P-6 pump to the vessel.
Although the pump was able to remove the water from the vessel, the boat's bilge pump was still inoperable. The Coast Guard took the vessel in tow and towed the boat, the two men and their dogs to O'Neill's Marina in St. Petersburg.
Although there were no injuries or damage in this case, the Coast Guard reminds boaters of the importance of making sure the equipment on board their vessels is in good working order. Also, although a cell phone was used in this case, the Coast Guard recommends that all boaters have a VHF-FM radio on board their vessel.
Editor's Note: A Coast Guard photographer was on board the rescue boats and was able to capture some still photographs of the response, which will be available later this afternoon. When the photos are available, this release will be re-sent with instructions on how to acquire them.
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The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service within the
Department of Homeland Security dedicated to protecting the safety and security of America. |
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