Coast Guard rescues 2 overdue near Big Coppitt Key

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Auxiliarist Jospeh Feldman (archive).

MIAMI — The Coast Guard rescued two overdue boaters near Big Coppitt Key, Tuesday.

Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstanders received notification of two teenagers on an overdue 16-foot skiff who were supposed to return to shore before sunset. The boat had no navigation lights or radio onboard. Watchstanders diverted a Coast Guard Air Station Miami MH-65 helicopter crew to respond.​

The helicopter crew arrived on scene, located the two waving, hoisted them and took them to Key West International Airport with no reported injuries.​ The owner will make arrangements to go back out and retrieve the anchored vessel.

"It's important that people have all the right safety equipment, comms equipment, and a float plan when going out on the water," said Senior Chief Petty Officer Jeremy Weaver, command duty officer at Sector Key West. "Utilizing the proper tools in a search and rescue situation, particularly at night, can exponentially increase our chances of rescuing someone."

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The Florida Keys Area Maritime Security Committee to Conduct Full-Scale Exercise

KEY WEST, Fl. – Coast Guard Sector Key West and the Florida Keys Area Maritime Security Committee will host a full-scale exercise with multiple local agencies on Friday, Feb. 1, 2019 from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The exercise is part of the Area Maritime Security and Training Exercise Program. The event will require federal, state, local and industry partners to respond and recover from a simulated active shooter threat at the Key West Ferry Terminal. The primary purpose of the exercise is to test agencies' response policies, plans and procedures to an active shooter incident within the maritime domain.

The exercise will take place at the Key West Ferry Terminal located on 100 Grinnell Street, Key West. All exercise play will be transparent to the public. There will be approximately 100 participants including representatives from multiple law enforcement agencies, local fire departments, medical/emergency medical service personnel, emergency management personnel, water treatment facilities, the maritime industry, Coast Guard, Federal Bureau of Investigation and others participating.

“When a significant event takes place, federal, state and local agencies establish a unified command to oversee the response," said Capt. Francisco Rego, Coast Guard Federal Maritime Security Coordinator. "Exercises like this build cohesiveness between agencies within the port, strengthen our ability to form a coordinated response, and ultimately improving response times and effectiveness.”

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