20+ Boats Displaced In Tampa Bay During Storm: U.S. Coast Guard

TAMPA BAY, FL — U.S. Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg crews responded to more than 20 reports of boats displaced throughout the Tampa Bay area during the weekend’s coastal storm.

Among the reported displaced vessels were two sailboats pinned against Cortez Bridge, a Coast Guard news release said. A crew found and rescued a mariner aboard one of the boats and brought them back to the station.

Coast Guard crews also investigated an unmanned kayak adrift near the Howard Frankland Bridge. They searched the area, but didn’t see anyone in distress.

• Also Read: Body Recovered From Sunken Shrimp Boat In Tampa Waters: Reports

The operator of a 34-foot sailboat out during the storm told Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders that he was up against the seawall in shallow water near Gulfport Casino. They maintained communication with the boater until he told them he no longer needed assistance.

“In a situation where a vessel becomes adrift, the best course of action is to contact your local Coast Guard sector command center with the description and registration number of your vessel,” Petty Officer 2nd Class Caroline Dotson, a watchstander, said. “In times of adversity, we are committed to doing everything within our capacity to support our local marine community. We recommend everyone check the local weather reports and secure their vessels when forecasted bad weather is incoming .”

Sector St. Petersburg Incident Management crews, Tampa police and other agencies also responded to a diesel discharge from “Miss Jordi,” a 63-foot shrimp boat that sank Saturday night off the Tampa Shrimp Docks and was recovered Sunday morning. The Coast Guard crews helped clean up and contain the oil spill.

The boat’s captain, Curtis Lee Cowling, who lived aboard the vessel full time, was reported missing Saturday around 11 p.m.

A body was found on the boat Sunday night, police said. Officers haven’t confirmed whether the body is Cowling or not.