HOUSTON – The Coast Guard assisted 33 people aboard an adrift dolphin sightseeing vessel off Galveston, Texas, Saturday.
At about 11 a.m., Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders received a call from the captain of the dolphin sightseeing vessel Baywatch Too. He reported that the vessel had lost steering capabilities and was drifting toward a dredge pipe in a highly trafficked area near Seawolf Park, the U.S. Coast Guard said in a release.
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Watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and directed the launch of a Coast Guard Station Galveston response boat.
When the response boat arrived on scene, the crew placed the Baywatch Too in tow and safely transported the vessel, crew and passengers to Pier 21 in Galveston, the U.S. Coast Guard said.
“It is fortunate we were patrolling nearby, heard the call for help and were able to relay communications between the Baywatch Too and the Coast Guard command center,” Greg Hoffnung, coxswain of the Auxiliary Flotilla 6-8 boat crew, said in a statement. “We recommend that all boaters keep a listening watch on channel 16 so they can support fellow mariners in distress, especially during such a busy holiday weekend.”