Imagery available: Coast Guard seeking public's help locating owner of aluminum boat found near Princeville, Kauai

Courtesy Photo | The Coast Guard is seeking the public's help in identifying the owner of an unmanned, adrift aluminum boat found approximately 25 miles north of Princeville, Kauai, July 6, 2016. Anyone with information that may help identify the owner of the boat is asked to contact the Coast Guard Sector Honolulu Command Center at 808-842-2600. (Courtesy photo)  

HONOLULU , HI, UNITED STATES

07.06.2016

Courtesy Story

U.S. Coast Guard District 14 Hawaii Pacific

HONOLULU — The Coast Guard is seeking the public's help in identifying the owner of an unmanned, adrift aluminum boat found approximately 25 miles north of Princeville, Kauai, Wednesday.

The aluminum boat is approximately 18 to 20-feet in length with no markings, engine or equipment onboard. There is light marine growth on the hull.

Anyone with information that may help identify the owner of the boat is asked to contact the Coast Guard Sector Honolulu Command Center at 808-842-2600.

Watchstanders at the Sector Honolulu Command Center received a report at 9:55 a.m., from the crew of NOAA vessel Oscar Elton Sette who located the boat.

Sector Honolulu watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast notice to mariners and diverted an HC-130 Hercules aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point to search the area.

There are currently no reported signs of distress or missing persons in the area. This case is unrelated to the search for the three missing fishermen off Oahu.

"The Coast Guard encourages owners who lose their water craft to report it to the Coast Guard so that we can rule out distress, eliminate any unnecessary searches, and potentially reunite owners with their property" said Lt. Nic Iannarone, a search and rescue coordinator at the Sector Honolulu command center.

The Coast Guard offers free "If Found" decals to be placed in a visible location on small, human-powered watercraft through the Operation Paddle Smart program. The information on the sticker can allow response entities to quickly identify the vessel's owner and aid search and rescue planners in determining the best course of action.

The stickers can be obtained for free at local harbormasters, through the Coast Guard Auxiliary, from Honolulu Sail and Power Squadron offices and at select marine retail and supply stores.

• Date Taken: 07.06.2016
• Date Posted: 07.06.2016 20:24
• Story ID: 203236
• Location: HONOLULU , HI, US