Coast Guard Investigating Hoax Distress Calls in Maine

Coast Guard Sector Northern New England (SNNE) is actively seeking information regarding a series of hoax distress calls made from Friday, October 11, to Sunday, October 13, in the vicinity of Mount Desert Island/Great Cranberry Island in Southwest Harbor, Maine.

Within that 48-hour window, SNNE received multiple transmissions on VHF Channel 16 from a person claiming to be in distress, taking on water, and abandoning ship. All calls are believed to have been made by the same person and from the same general location.

In response, the Coast Guard dispatched multiple resources and conducted hours of active searching for the potential mariner in distress. No person or signs of a sunken vessel were ever located, nor were any persons or vessels reported missing.

Knowingly transmitting false distress calls is a federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison and fines exceeding $250,000.

Anyone who can provide information about this case is urged to contact the Coast Guard Investigative Service on their website, or in the App Store via CGIS Tips.

CGIS TIPS: Report your tips here.