PHOTOS AVAILABLE: Coast Guard Cutter Diamondback crew conducts 100 mile tow off Florida Gulf Coast

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U.S. Coast Guard 7th District PA Detachment Tampa Bay Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment Tampa Bay 305-607-6347 PA Detachment Tampa Bay online newsroom

Coast Guard Cutter Diamondback crew conducts 100 mile tow off Florida Gulf Coast

    

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Coast Guard Cutter Diamondback crew conducted a three-day towing evolution of a disabled 45-foot sailboat with three people on board located more than 100 miles offshore of the Florida Gulf Coast Monday.

The Diamondback crew transferred the sailboat to an awaiting commercial salvage vessel near John’s Pass, Florida for final transit into port Monday.

Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg received a VHF Channel 16 call Friday from the disabled sailboat operator that they lost use of the rutter. The Diamondback crew arrived Saturday and towed the vessel utilizing a tow bridle and multiple sea anchors to maintain control and ensure safety.

The Diamondback is an 87-foot Coastal Patrol Boat with primary missions of search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, fisheries enforcement, marine environmental protection, defense readiness; and ports, waterways and coastal security.

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-USCG-