BOSTON — The Coast Guard has suspended its search Saturday afternoon for a possible person in the water near Marblehead.
At about about 11:40 a.m., a good Samaritan notified authorities of an unmanned and unmarked 10-foot grey, green, and black kayak found adrift three nautical miles east of Marblehead with a dead cell phone aboard.
Unsure whether a person was in distress or if the kayak simply drifted out from land, and with no identifying information written on the kayak, the Coast Guard launched a search for a possible person in the water.
After charging and retrieving information from the cell phone found aboard the kayak, the owner of the kayak was identified and accounted for.
The search spanded over two hours, and utilized a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew from Coast Guard Station Gloucester and a MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew from Air Station Cape Cod who were both diverted from their patrols.
“Search efforts like this are a costly reminder for paddleboard, canoe, and kayak owners, as well as rental companies, to ensure all their crafts are marked with detailed contact info to avoid triggering an unnecessary search,” comments Petty Officer 1st Class Andrew Sanchez, an operations specialist at the First Coast Guard District Command Center.
The hourly expense of operating a Jayhawk helicopter is roughly $11,000 and a Motor Lifeboat is estimated at nearly $3,000 per hour.
“If-found stickers are provided by the Coast Guard if needed — but simply writing a name and number in permanent marker would help in these situations,” said Sanchez.
The Coast Guard reminds all boaters and paddlers that even during routine trips, it is important to prepare for the worst case scenario, as conditions can change rapidly in New England. Learn more about boating safety here.