U.S. Coast Guard Station Oswego file photo by Seaman Bryan Sullivan
At about 4 p.m., a watchstander at Coast Guard Sector Buffalo responded to a distress call coming over VHF-FM channel 16, the international hailing and distress channel, from the boaters aboard the pleasure craft Trouble Shooter.
The 24-foot boat became disabled and there was no anchor aboard, and due to it being in vicinity of the breakaway the Coast Guard deemed it a distress situation. The watchstander issued an urgent marine information broadcast and directed the launch of a rescue boat crew from Coast Guard Station Oswego.
The rescue crew aboard a 25-foot response boat was on scene with the distressed boaters within 10 minutes and towed the vessel to Wrights Landing in Oswego.
The Coast Guard reminds boaters of the importance of having a VHF-FM radio aboard your vessel. In this case it assisted greatly in the quick response of the Coast Guard and the eventual safe return of three boaters.