Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Lei Ogumoro said DPS received a call for assistance at about 9:40 on Jan. 7 regarding two distressed vessels.
Ogumoro said DPS Boating Safety immediately launched its rescue boat, the Zodiac 111, to assist the vessels.
She said the Boating Safety officers met with Jude Palacios, captain of one of the vessels, at the B29 Dive Spot east of Managaha.
Palacios informed the Boating Safety officers that they were in good condition but another distressed boat was anchored in the north direction.
The second vessel, a 24-foot blue boat with a 120-horsepower outboard engine, was manned by Capt. Mark Anthony Hapdei and carried several Japanese tourists.
Police learned that the vessel was having engine problems.
The vessel was secured and towed back to Saipan. All boat occupants were found to be in good condition.
Hapdei’s vessel was inspected and Boating Safety officers found that there were no flares on board.
He was issued a citation for not having the proper safety equipment
Hapdei told Boating Safety officers that he departed Smiling Cove with several tourists who wanted to go scuba diving. They arrived at the B29 dive spot at around 9:30 a.m.
Hapdei said he saw Palacios waving his hands and shouting for help several minutes later because his boat had drifted away from where he and several individuals were diving.
According to Hapdei, he rendered assistance but after helping Palacios retrieve his vessel, he discovered that his own vessel was encountering engine problems. That was when they called for police assistance.
