Damn Washingtonians can't drive!

And, yes I was born in Washington State.

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Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard Thirteenth District




Press Release Date: Sept. 27, 2005
Contact: PA3 Mike Zolzer

(206) 220-7237


TWO PEOPLE SAFE AFTER BOAT RUNS AGROUND NEAR EVERETT, WASH.

SEATTLE - Two people are safe today after their 20-foot pleasure boat
ran aground near Everett, Wash., this morning.

Coast Guard Sector Seattle received a call on VHF channel 16 from the
Port of Everett at 3 a.m., reporting a pleasure boat was aground about
one mile west of Everett with two people aboard.

The Coast Guard established a communication schedule with the Port of
Everett, which was visually monitoring the vessel. The vessel had no
means of communication onboard.

A commercial salvage vessel from Everett was launched to assist the
pleasure boat but was unable to reach the vessel due to the depth of
the water.

At about 12 p.m., a 25-foot response boat from Coast Guard Station
Seattle was diverted from a patrol to assist. The crew of the response
boat was able to quickly locate and transport the two people and their
pet to the Everett Marina in good condition.

Investigators from Coast Guard Sector Seattle are monitoring and
investigating the grounding.

The Coast Guard recommends vessels should carry an operable global
positioning system and a VHF marine band radio onboard. Radio and
global positioning systems, while moderately expensive are essential
tools for boating safely.

The Coast Guard can track a VHF marine band radio broadcast to its
source which can speed rescuers to a specific location. Also when a
boater broadcasts a call for help on channel 16, they are heard by
everyone around them that is also monitoring the radio. In comparsion,
a cell phone enables you to only conduct point-to-point communications.

Additional boating information can be found at
http://www.uscgboating.org/index.


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The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service
within the
Department of Homeland Security dedicated to protecting the safety and
security of America.