SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — The U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service is seeking help from the public with information about "search and rescue hoax transmissions" that were reportedly made over the course of two days.
Shortly before 4 p.m. on Wednesday, the Coast Guard Sector Northern New England Command Center reportedly received a report over VHF Channel 16 in a male child's voice that a boat had run out of gas in the middle of Portland, Maine, and was requesting help from a ski boat, the Coast Guard said in a news release Friday. The voice also ended the call by saying "S.O.S."
"The call originated from a Coast Guard remote-operated VHF radio tower in Charlotte, Vermont," the release stated. "Using direction-finding capability, it appears the caller is in the vicinity of Burlington, Vermont along the eastern shore of Lake Champlain."
Shortly after 4 p.m. on Thursday, the same individual reported over VHF Channel 16 again saying, "This is a 25-foot speedboat stuck in the middle of Maine." The call was ended with "S.O.S." again, too, according to the release.
"The caller then made two additional transmissions stating 'S.O.S.,'" the release said.
According to the Coast Guard, VHF Channel 16 is for international hailing and distress only, and knowingly transmitting false distress calls is a federal crime.
"It can lead to criminal and civil penalties if found guilty and can be punishable by up to ten years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines plus the cost of the search," the release explained. "Deliberate misuse of distress compromises the Coast Guard’s mission of providing search and rescue assistance to the maritime community that needs it, and this crime is treated seriously."
The Coast Guard asks anyone who may recognize this voice or has information regarding the incidents to contact the Sector Northern New England Command Center at 833-449-2407.
You can listen to the recording of the calls here.