News Release

HONOLULU— Crewmembers from U.S. Coast Guard Station Honolulu came to the aid of a mariner aboard a vessel taking on water in the vicinity of Keehi Lagoon, Tuesday.

Coast Guard Sector Honolulu watchstanders were notified at approximately 9 a.m. that the sailing vessel, For Heavens Sake, was taking on water. Watchstanders immediately issued an urgent marine information broadcast over VHF-FM channel 16.

Station Honolulu crewmembers aboard a 25-foot Response Boat-Small arrived at the scene at approximately 9:30 a.m. The crewmembers climbed aboard the vessel and identified a breach in a previously made patch in the hull. They reinforced the patch and dewatered the vessel. They performed a post-search and rescue boarding and found no further discrepancies.

“We got there just in time, if we had arrived there later, the boat would have sank completely,” said Petty Officer 1^st Class Ekahi Lee, a coxswain from Station Honolulu. "When we got there, there was approximately 500 to 600 gallons of water aboard."

The boat is anchored 200 yards from Keehi Lagoon. The owner will continue to make repairs. There is no pollution threat at this time.

There is no imagery available. For more information, please contact Petty Officer 3^rd Class Anthony L. Soto at 808-535-3230.