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Editor: Rod Sullivan
Profession: Maritime Attorney

Category: Safety at Sea

On June 11 at 2300 the United States Coast Guard received a distress call. The caller told dispatchers that his 33-foot Grady-White sport fishing boat, named the "Blue Sheep", was sinking near Boynton Beach Inlet. He also reported that eight other people were aboard, including four children and his wife, who was bleeding from her leg. He spoke with the Coast Guard for over an hour and told the Coast Guard his last name was Tobin.

The Coast Guard searched for the vessel on June 12th and 13th before giving up after finding no debris or floatsam.

Mr. "Tobin" has now been identified as Robert Moran, a 45 year old unemployed tow truck driver who had quit his job after suffering a back injury. He was arrested after an anonymous caller recognized his voice when recordings of the distress calls were played on the local news channels.

When Rescue 21 is in place, the Coast Guard will be able to pinpoint such calls, find out if they are coming from ashore or at sea, and eliminate some of the false distress calls which happen from time to time.