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Search Continues For Occupants Of Sunken Boat

News Channel 8 photo by PAUL LAMISON

Coast Guard and police boats search the Gulf of Mexico for anyone who may have been aboard a boat found capsized in about 10 feet of water near Fort DeSoto.

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TBO.com

Published: October 16, 2008

Updated: 10/16/2008 03:21 pm

TAMPA - U.S. Coast Guard and local law enforcement officers continued their search for anyone who may have been aboard a capsized boat found in about 10 feet of water near Fort DeSoto Park this morning.

"Right now, we're searching 250-square mile area," Coast Guard Petty Officer Robert Simpson said this afternoon.

Mystery surrounds the sunken boat that was found this morning by Pinellas County sheriff's deputies.

No one has been reported overdue and no distress calls have come in, Simpson said. In addition to the search by helicopter and rescue boats, officials are scouring parking lots at nearby boat ramps and marinas to see whether they can find a vehicle that may have transported the small boat, a Gheenoe.

The 16-foot vessel, which is shaped like a canoe with a squared-off stern so an outboard motor can be affixed, was found by sheriff's marine unit deputies on patrol. A 25-horsepower Mercury on the back of the Gheenoe was in gear with the throttle in the three-quarters open position.

The vessel was spotted in Bunces Pass, Simpson said. It appeared to be in good shape and only recently sunk. No personal property was found in the area.

Simpson said the vessel had no registration number even though it had a motor on it and should have been registered.

"It is motorized and it is not registered," he said. "That's adding to the problem. We're hoping that it just got adrift and everybody's all right."

Anyone with information about the vessel can call the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office marine enforcement unit at (727) 582-6200.

Stay with TBO.com for developments.

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