Police looking for owner of unmanned kayak

By: News Staff

news@abc6.com

An unmanned and adrift kayak off the coast of North Kingstown caused the Coast Guard to search for a possible person in the water.

Around 9 a.m. Thursday, a yellow kayak with a black seat was spotted in the water with no person aboard. It was reported by a Good Samaritan who used a VHF radio to contact the Coast Guard Sector in Southeastern New England

The Coast Guard said the Station on Castle Hill jumped into action by launching a 45-foot response boat with crew to search the surrounding area from Quonset Point to Jamestown Bridge for a possible person in the water.

There were also six units from the Narragansett Bay Marine Task Force that assisted in the search.

"When there is a boat on the water with no person aboard, the Coast Guard will always search as if someone is in distress," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Cody Seevers, an operations specialist in Sector Southeastern New England’s command center.

Seevers continued, saying: "The Coast Guard recommends using ‘If Found’ stickers, or even a sharpie, to write a name and good contact number on all paddle craft. This allows the Coast Guard to locate an owner and determine whether a person is in real trouble or if their gear is simply adrift."

The search for the yellow kayak’s owner was suspended due to lack of information.

The Coast Guard asks if anyone has information about the yellow kayak’s owner to please call Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England at 508-457-3211.

© WLNE-TV / ABC6 2016