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Coast Guard and partners rescued 14 boaters in an active week off Florida's Suncoast.

On Friday, April 12, 2024, Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders received a mayday call around 11 p.m. from three people reporting their 47-foot commercial fishing vessel was sinking 1 mile southwest of Johns Pass. A Coast Guard Station St. Petersburg boat crew recovered all three people around 11:10 p.m. as they floated next to their partially submerged and aground vessel, then took them to Johns Pass Marina for higher-level care from emergency medical services. No injuries were reported.

The mariners coordinated the vessel's recovery with commercial salvage. On Monday, 605 gallons of diesel were pumped from the vessel's fuel tank. On Tuesday, the vessel was towed to Snug Harbor Boatworks. No pollution was reported.

On Thursday, April 18, Sector St. Petersburg and Coast Guard Seventh District watchstanders received an EPIRB alert and mayday call around 2 p.m. from four people aboard a 30-foot vessel 30 miles west of Venice. A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater aircrew located them around 3 p.m. aboard the vessel, which had lost steering. A Coast Guard Station Cortez boat crew fixed the steering casualty and escorted the vessel to Station Cortez. No injuries were reported.

Also on Thursday, April 18, Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders were contacted around 1:45 p.m. by Pinellas County Sheriff's Office dispatch about three people aboard a disabled 21-foot vessel 14 miles west of Egmont Key. A Coast Guard Station St. Petersburg boat crew found the out-of-fuel vessel around 3:15 p.m. and towed it to Egmont Channel. An Eckerd College Search and Rescue boat crew completed the tow to Fort De Soto Boat Ramp. No injuries were reported.