DPS spokeswoman Lei Ogumoro said they received a call from the Emergency Management Office at 3:25 p.m. on Feb. 23, reporting a vessel in distress located about 10 miles west of the Garapan Fishing Base.
Ogumoro said DPS Boating Safety and the Commonwealth Ports Authority ports police launched the Boston Whaler rescue boat to respond to the call for assistance.
Police officers eventually located the distressed boat, a 17-foot white blue bayliner, seven miles west of Managaha, she added.
She said the operator of the vessel, 29-year-old Paulo L. Restauro Jr., was found to be in good condition.
Ogumoro said the police officers secured the boat ant towed it back to Smiling Cove.
“The vessel was inspected and Boating Safety officers found that the operator was in compliance with CNMI laws,” Ogumoro said.
She added that police learned that Restauro was fishing about five miles west of Managaha when he tried to turn the engine back on, but it would not start.
