Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Lei Ogumoro said DPS Boating Safety Section officers immediately launched rescue units to respond after they received a call at 11:09 a.m. on Feb. 17.
She said when the ports police rescue boat arrived on the scene, the officers noticed a 16-foot sail boat already partially submerged in the water. Two other boats were already next to the capsized boat to offer assistance.
Ogumoro said one of the boats, operated by Judd Palacios, had already rescued a passenger from the sunken vessel while the two other passengers were still in the partially sunk boat.
Boating Safety and port police officers said when they arrived, another boat operated by Hozumi Miyayauchi and Joseph D. Aldan was already preparing to tow the distressed vessel back to shore.
Miyayauchi’s boat towed the sunken vessel back to shore while the rescuing officers escorted the two boats.
The capsized vessel was owned by Lino Olopai.
Ogumoro said water entered the rigger from both sides and caused it to capsize. The boat’s passengers suffered no injuries.
Ogumoro said when the Boating Safety officers boarded the capsized vessel, they discovered the boat owner did not have personal floatation devices onboard, which she said is a violation of CNMI boating safety laws.
