Department of Public Safety spokesman Eric David said the DPS 911 dispatch received a call at 6:47 p.m. on April 17 from Juan Taitaino who reported that his boat was in distress.
David said DPS maritime safety officers immediately boarded their rescue vessel to respond to the scene.
David said the officers found the vessel drifting west a mile off the reef.
He added that the rescuers towed the boat safely back to the Smiling Cove Marina.
“Maritime officers boarded the vessel to inspect if it violated the laws, and they found two violations,” David said.
The boat owner was cited for having no ship to shore radio transceiver, and no distress signal flares.
