UPDATE, JUNE 12, 2012: The Coast Guard has released an audio recording of the distress call purportedly sent from Blind Date. The agency states it was received on VHF channel 14, which seasoned boaters and yacht crew alike know is not the emergency channel. As you will hear, the caller says the yacht is taking on water. But, he also gives conflicting numbers as to the total amount of people onboard. Furthermore, the Coast Guard is offering a $3,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the caller. Anyone with knowledge can contact the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service at (646) 872-5774 or (212) 668-7048 and remain anonymous.
Read on for our original article.
The U.S. Coast Guard is formally investigating a reported explosion today aboard Blind Date as a hoax, in conjunction with the FBI.
The agency received an initial distress call at 4:20 p.m. Eastern time. Blind Date was, according to the caller, approximately 17 miles out to sea, just off Sandy Hook, New Jersey. The 21 people aboard all abandoned ship into liferafts, the caller added. The Coast Guard didn’t reveal the cause of the explosion, but did state that the megayacht’s electrical system was disabled. Additionally, the agency says, Blind Date sent the emergency call via a solar-powered VHF. Four Coast Guard aircraft, two motorized lifeboats, and helicopters from the New York City police department, the Nassau County (New York) police, and the New Jersey state police also responded. Two private boats further responded. All together, more than 200 emergency responders mobilized. They planned to take the passengers to ambulances waiting on shore. These, in turn, would transport them to hospitals for evaluation and/or treatment.
The Coast Guard began doubting the story. however, around 6:30 p.m. Capt. Gregory P. Hitchen of the Coast Guard points to how the area is heavily trafficked. No additional vessels reported seeing anything, either. Furthermore, he adds, an explosion on a large yacht should have been obvious, especially to the agency’s helicopter crews. “They would have seen smoke, and they would have seen an oil slick,” he says, in addition to the brightly colored liferafts. As of 7:30 p.m., helicopters and search boats hadn’t found any liferafts or signs of debris. (On a related note, MegayachtNews.com and other media outlets were unable to locate her in the region via AIS.) The Coast Guard called off the search just after 10 p.m. local time.
Hours later, Hitchen revealed that the caller identified himself as the captain. He also revealed that a second caller indicated three people had died and that several passengers suffered second- and third-degree burns. The caller further said that the remaining passengers were boarding the liferafts. The agency taped both calls, as a matter of regular procedure.
The Coast Guard has no definitive leads as to the caller’s identity. It plans to see whether anyone who provided a possible lead may recognize the voice, though. Notably, “We’re fairly positive after reviewing the tapes” that the same person placed both calls, Hitchen says. He adds that a portion of the audio will be released to the public. Hitchens says the initial call lasted about 20 seconds, a typical duration. The agency is having difficulty determining the exact origin, because just one antenna in New Jersey picked up the call. Regardless, the Coast Guard believes both calls were from on land in either New York or New Jersey.
As to why the hoax calls may have been placed, Hitchens says they’re usually done “to get attention.” Callers like to watch the helicopters and boats head out in response, he explains.
There are a few yachts named Blind Date, including the one pictured, a 134-footer built in 1995 by Lürssen (as Xenia). She was listed as being in U.S. waters during the alleged incident. Burgess, which lists her for sale and for charter, confirmed that she is in Florida. As for the other same-named yachts, the 161-footer built by Trinity Yachts was confirmed by Trinity as being in Florida during the alleged incident. And, the 153-footer built by Heesen Yachts was located in the Med.
We’ll continue updating this story as further details become available. The Coast Guard takes hoax calls quite seriously, and prosecutes to the full extent of the law if the caller can be identified. Knowingly making a false distress call is a felony in the United States, carrying a penalty of five to 10 years in prison, a $5,000 civil fine, and a $250,000 criminal fine. Furthermore, the person must reimburse the Coast Guard its costs incurred in responding to the call. Coast Guard rescue boats cost $300 and up per hour to operate, for example.
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