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U.S. Coast Guard assists 3 aboard disabled boat

The Maui News – A 25-foot pleasure craft, disabled and adrift about 17 miles north of Kahului, was towed safely back to Kahului Harbor on Sunday by the U.S. Coast Guard.

The 29-foot Response Boat-Small boat crew from Coast Guard Station Maui launched to assist the Nohuli due to the health of one of the three passengers, who was diabetic, sunset nearing and no available commercial vessel assistance, the Coast Guard said in a news release Monday.

At about noon Sunday, watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Honolulu command center received a call from Maui County 911 dispatchers who were in contact with the operator of the Nohuli, the Coast Guard said. Dispatchers reported that all three people were wearing lifejackets, had plenty of food and water and an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon aboard and were in no immediate danger. However, one of the people aboard was a diabetic.

Attempts to coordinate commercial or good Samaritan assistance were unsuccessful, the Coast Guard said.

After locating the vessel, the Coast Guard brought aboard the three passengers and placed the Nohuli in stern tow. The passengers and boat were taken back to Kahului Harbor, the Coast Guard said.

There were no injuries.

“We can’t stress enough the importance of having proper equipment and being prepared when out to sea,” said Lt. Victoria Lacefield-Rodriguez, a command duty officer at Sector Honolulu. “The Nohuli crew’s actions are a perfect example of being prepared. This tow was executed perfectly and without further incident by Station Maui, but in the event conditions worsened or something went wrong, having that EPIRB, extra provisions and any necessary medications put this crew in a position to be self-sufficient until help arrived.”

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