PORTLAND — The Coast Guard is reminding the public that knowingly transmitting false distress calls is a federal crime, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000, plus the cost of the search.

Coast Guard Sector Northern New England received a hoax distress call on Wednesday, June 12, and this was the second distress call determined to be a hoax in two weeks. Both calls were transmitted over VHF Channel 16, the international hailing and distress channel. 

The most recent hoax was believed to have originated near Ogunquit, Maine, and consisted of an individual calling out, “Hello, we are going down; we are sinking. I repeat, we are sinking.” Then transmitting, "Why is the temperature 69 degrees?" moments later. 

“Deliberately making fake distress calls compromises public safety,” said Capt. Amy E. Florentino, Sector Commander of Coast Guard Sector Northern New England, in a news release. “These calls divert valuable time and resources from our lifesaving search and rescue missions and limit our ability to help boaters in actual emergencies.”

The Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) investigates hoax distress calls. If you have information regarding the above incidents, please contact CGIS by visiting their website linked here or you can contact the Sector Northern New England Command Center at 833-449-2407.