Feds fine fishing firm for its false distress call

The Federal Communications Commission fined a Honolulu-based fishing vessel last month for falsely activating a distress signal about 150 miles northeast of Oahu.

On Feb. 26, U.S. Coast Guard rescue teams were notified of a distress signal. When the vessel, the Princess K, owned by the Princess K Fishing Corp., did not respond, the Coast Guard launched a C-130 aircraft from Air Station Barbers Point and located the vessel 18 miles from where the distress signal had been sent.

The Coast Guard said the emergency radio beacon from the Princess K had been thrown overboard and was not retrieved. It continued transmitting until March 1.

The Coast Guard spent more than three aircraft hours and six personnel hours at a cost of more than $35,000.

The company was fined $8,000 for the false activation.