News Release

SAN FRANCISCO — The search effort to locate a reported person in the water and a boat collision near the Richmond/San Rafael bridge has been suspended after rescue crews were unable to locate any signs of distress this morning.

The search was suspended at approximately 8 a.m. after Coast Guard helicopter and boat crews searched through the night and into the morning and were unable to find any debris or evidence of a collision. The Coast Guard was assisted in the search by the Marin, Tiburon, and San Rafael police departments.

Coast Guard Sector San Francisco received a mayday call over VHF-FM channel 16, at 10:53 last night. The Coast Guard was radioed again at 11:18 from a source reporting that their boat had been involved in a collision with another boat and that there was a person in the water. The Coast Guard immediately launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station San Francisco and a 45-foot utility boat from Station San Francisco, as well as, diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Pike, an 87-foot patrol boat, to the scene.

The Coast Guard suspects that this case was the result of a false distress call. False distress calls are investigated by the Coast Guard Investigation Service and the Federal Communications Commission. The Coast Guard would like to remind the public that making false calls for help over VHF-FM channel 16 is illegal, and punishable under federal and state law. 

Additionally, the boating public is reminded that channel 16 is reserved for distress communication, equivalent to 911 for phone lines. Boaters who need to hail the Coast Guard for non-emergencies can contact the local station on channel 16 and request to use another channel to communicate.

Under federal law, an individual who knowingly and willfully communicates a false distress message to the Coast Guard, or causes the Coast Guard to attempt to save lives and property when no help is needed is:

Guilty of a class D felony

Subject to up to 6 years in prison

Subject to a civil penalty of not more than $5,000

Liable for all costs the Coast Guard incurs as a result of the individuals action.

Under California state law, it is unlawful for any person to use or discharge any registered emergency-signaling device in any manner other than that permitted by the instructions for use.

Should an individual ignite a test flare, or accidentally ignite a flare when not in a situation of distress, the individual should make every effort to contact the Coast Guard as soon as possible, and provide their location and report the ignited distress signal. The same advice applies to "mayday" calls over the radio. Should boaters believe themselves to be in distress and the situation resolves itself, the boater should report their updated condition to the Coast Guard immediately. By correcting the initial report as soon as possible, the Coast Guard can avoid sending crews on an unnecessary and potentially dangerous search.

To learn more about safe boating practices, and to see all required and recommended safety equipment, visit:

http://www.uscgboating.org/.