The 12-foot distressed vessel was recovered.
DPS photo
THE Department of Public Safety-Maritime Patrol Section launched a rescue vessel outside the reef near Sugar Dock on Friday evening after receiving a call about a distressed boat that was sinking.
DPS later learned that the boat had already been towed to shore.
In a statement on Monday, Assistant Chief of Police Simon Manacop said, “Investigations revealed that the 12-foot vessel with a small engine was occupied by four persons of Chinese nationality.”
Manacop added, “They had launched their boat from Sugar Dock at 8 p.m. for a test drive, according to the operator of the vessel. At around 9 p.m., the vessel was heading outside the reef when a wave struck the vessel, and water started to flood inside. Two of the occupants [put on] scuba tanks, fins, and masks and started to swim towards the shore. Upon reaching shore, they called for assistance.”
DPS also learned that one of the two individuals left behind with the boat decided to pull it onto the shoreline south of Aquarius Beach Tower.
“All occupants received medical attention and refused to be transported to the hospital,” Manacop said.
DPS cited the operator for failing to register the boat, not having functional navigational lights or radio transceivers, overloading the vessel, and lacking a U.S. Coast Guard-approved flotation device.
No further information about the boat’s four occupants was available as of press time Monday evening.
