HONOLULU — The Coast Guard responded to a report of a disabled 50-foot sailing vessel with 10 people aboard a mile and a half from Kewalo Basin, Oahu, Sunday.
A 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Honolulu towed the Witchdoctor II into Keehi Lagoon to prevent the vessel from running aground near Sand Island.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Honolulu received a call from the master aboard the Witchdoctor II at 6:15 p.m., stating the vessel was disabled and adrift.
The vessel's crew was attempting to return to Kewalo Basin when they witnessed smoke emitting from their engine compartment. Sector Honolulu watchstanders advised the crew to drop anchor to avoid drifting into shoal water and to don their life jackets. The RB-M crew was launched to the scene to assist.
No injuries were reported. No imagery is available for this case.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary offers free vessel safety checks for mariners. Boats that pass the examination are awarded a distinctive VSC decal that alerts the Coast Guard, harbor patrol, and other law enforcement agencies that your boat was found to be in full compliance with all federal and state boating laws.
Frequently, such agencies will not detain or board boats during routine patrols that are displaying a current-year decal and are otherwise operating safely.
The vessel safety check can range anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes depending on the size of the boat.
Auxiliary personnel inspect life jackets, registration and numbering, navigation lights, ventilation, fire extinguishers, battery covers and connections and distress signals to ensure everything is valid and in proper working condition.
For more information on how to receive a free vessel safety check, visit the Coast Guard Auxiliary website here.