Dec. 23 – Harbor Blotter

Byline: The Log Staff

SAN DIEGO COUNTY
San Diego Bay
Nov. 22 • 12:30 p.m. San Diego Harbor Police officers responded to a report of an oil spill near South Marina Park. A docked vessel was suspected of spilling 4 to 5 gallons of oil. The Coast Guard took over the investigation.
Nov. 26 • 3:30 p.m. Harbor Police officers responded to a report of a possible oil spill near Harbor Island. The source could not be identified, and the Coast Guard was notified.
Nov. 27 • 11 a.m. Harbor Police officers assisted San Diego Police Department personnel in the arrest of an attempted murder suspect near America’s Cup Harbor. The subject was taken into custody without incident. The case is being investigated by the San Diego Police Department.
Nov. 28 • Noon Harbor Police officers responded to a report of a person in the water near the USS Midway pier. A woman was detained for psychiatric evaluation. No injuries were reported.
Dec. 7 • 12:15 p.m. Harbor Police officers assisted Customs and Border Protection personnel in a search of a boat suspected of smuggling, near Shelter Island. The vessel was found to be carrying four undocumented immigrants, officers reported. Customs and Border Protection is handling the investigation.
Dec. 8 • 5 p.m. Harbor Police officers responded to a medical aid request near the Laurel Street Anchorage. Officers arrived and assisted a boater, providing first aid and transporting medics to the subject.
Dec. 9 • 1:30 a.m. Harbor Police officers cited the operator of a vessel near Buoy 18 for not having proper lighting.
Dec. 12 • Harbor Police officers provided crowd control at the 10th Avenue Marine Terminal during a port protest organized by the Occupy movement. Two people were arrested on misdemeanor charges. No injuries were reported.

Mission Bay
Nov. 29 • 6:13 a.m. San Diego Lifeguard Service Harbor Patrol personnel, along with Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, and San Diego Police Department personnel, responded to a report of a panga with 13 suspected illegal immigrants on board, adrift 200 yards from the shoreline off Sunset Cliffs Boulevard. Lifeguards towed the vessel, and the 13 people aboard were transferred to Customs and Border Protection.
Dec. 1 • 3:42 p.m. Harbor Patrol lifeguards responded to a report of a vessel adrift in Mission Bay Channel, where a catamaran with two people on board had dismasted. No injuries were reported, and a rescue vessel towed the catamaran to safety.
Dec. 1 • 8:20 p.m. Harbor Patrol lifeguards responded to a report of a vessel adrift in Mariner’s Basin. A rescue vessel was dispatched to investigate, and they found the vessel aground due to low tide.
Dec. 3 • 6:35 p.m. Harbor Patrol lifeguards responded to a report of a flare sighting off  the 1000 block of Coast Boulevard. Lifeguards searched the area and contacted two vessels but found nothing. The Coast Guard continued patrolling the area.
Dec. 13 • 2:48 p.m. Harbor Patrol lifeguards responded to a report of a kayak on the rocks at La Jolla. The kayaker was able to clear the rocks and continued boating safely.

ORANGE COUNTY
Dana Point Harbor
Dec. 2 • 3:01 p.m. Orange County Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol officers responded to a report of a boat illegally secured at the east anchorage.
Dec. 5 • 4:39 p.m. Harbor Patrol officers assisted a boat at the harbor entrance.
Dec. 8 • 3:43 p.m. Harbor Patrol officers responded to a report of excessive smoke at K Dock, on the East Basin island side. Officers found a vessel with four people aboard setting up a fog machine for the holiday boat parade.
Dec. 12 • 1:30 p.m. Harbor Patrol officers assisted a boat off Doheny State Beach that was dragging anchor.
Dec. 13 • 11:54 a.m. Harbor Patrol officers towed a boat near Emerald Street.

Newport Harbor
Dec. 1 • 1:43 p.m. Orange County Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol officers responded to a report of a boat fire at the Balboa Yacht Basin. Officers confirmed the fire was coming from a boat at a dock slip. Newport Beach Fire Department personnel also responded.
Dec. 1 • 4:47 p.m. Harbor Patrol officers assisted a boat owner who reported he could not move his dinghy near Fernando Street because of all the boats stored on the dock. The subject’s boat was freed.
Dec. 3 • 5:53 p.m. Harbor Patrol officers responded to a report of a boat accident near a boat rental facility.
Dec. 3 • 10:18 p.m. Harbor Patrol officers assisted with a boat tow at a local yacht club.
Dec. 4 • 4:52 p.m. Harbor Patrol officers assisted with a boat tow at the anchorage.
Dec. 8 • 9:06 a.m. Harbor Patrol officers responded to a report of debris adrift near the Gillette house.
Dec. 13 • 2:24 p.m. Harbor Patrol officers assisted in pumping water out of a boat near Newport Island. The owner of a 17-foot vessel reported that water was coming on board his boat and that his bilge pump was not keeping up with the inflow. Officers reportedly found about 1.5 feet of water on board when they responded.

Sunset/Huntington Harbour
Dec. 1 • 11:25 a.m. Orange County Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol officers assisted with towing a boat from the harbor entrance.
Dec. 4 • 7:54 p.m. Harbor Patrol officers responded to a report of a fuel spill near Admiralty Island.
Dec. 9 • 1:57 p.m. Harbor Patrol officers assisted with a boat tow at the fuel dock.
Dec. 10 • 6:03 p.m. Harbor Patrol officers responded to a report of a cabin cruiser aground near a local yacht club. The vessel operator waited for high tide to free the vessel.
Dec. 11 • 5:13 p.m. Harbor Patrol officers assisted with towing a boat to the launch ramp.
Dec. 11 • 6:48 p.m. Harbor Patrol officers responded to a report of a holiday boat parade participant colliding with a docked vessel and continuing with the parade. Officers attempted to locate the vessel to see if any damage was done. A message was left at the owner’s address.
Dec. 12 • 7:19 a.m. Harbor Patrol officers responded to a report of a boat fire near the 4200 block of Warner, aboard a 40-foot trawler at its slip. Officers reported light smoke and an electrical smell.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Marina del Rey
Dec. 3 • 8:34 p.m. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Marine Enforcement deputies responded to a report of a man trespassing at a dock near a waterfront restaurant. After investigating, it was determined that the man was not trespassing.
Dec. 4 • 4:20 p.m. Marine Enforcement deputies stopped a vessel in the main channel and cited the owner for violation of the speed law.
Dec. 8 • 8:30 a.m. Deputies assigned to Marine Patrol conducted a traffic stop in the turning basin. One boat owner was warned about a lack of proper safety equipment aboard his vessel.
Dec. 8 • 8:57 a.m. Marine Enforcement deputies assisted in rescuing a struggling dog from the water. The dog was reported to be fine.
Dec. 14 • 10:15 a.m. Marine Enforcement deputies conducted a boat stop at the vessel launch ramp in H Basin. A boat owner was cited for safety equipment violations, and his passenger was arrested on an outstanding warrant.

VENTURA COUNTY
Channel Islands Harbor
Dec. 2 • 12:05 a.m. Channel Islands Harbor Patrol officers, along with Oxnard Fire Department and Gold Coast Ambulance personnel, assisted a fall victim at a local marina. The victim was removed from his vessel and transported to an area hospital.
Dec. 6 • 7:45 a.m. Harbor Patrol officers responded to a report of a 32-foot powerboat disabled at the harbor entrance. The vessel was taken in tow and released at a local marina.
Dec. 9 • 5:40 a.m. Harbor Patrol officers responded to a mayday call from a 31-foot powerboat entering the harbor that was taking on water. Officers placed a dewatering pump on the vessel and escorted it to a nearby boatyard, where the boat was hauled out.

Ventura Harbor
Nov. 28 • 1:02 p.m. Ventura Harbor Patrol officers released an inflatable boat to its owner after the owner received a citation for mooring without permission at the city dock. Officers had impounded the vessel a few days earlier, at the city’s request.
Nov. 28 • 2:03 p.m. Harbor Patrol officers responded to a report of a large oil spill at a local marina. Officers notified the Coast Guard, who also responded. The source of the spill was not found. The Coast Guard reported the spill was not recoverable, so they did not attempt to clean up the oil. Harbor Patrol officers deployed booms and absorbent pads.
Nov. 29 • 7 a.m. Harbor Patrol officers continued in their efforts to contain and clean up the aforementioned oil spill. The Coast Guard opened funding to pay for cleanup. Patriot Environmental Services arrived on the scene to take care of the spill.
Dec. 1 • 11:23 a.m. Harbor Patrol officers contacted the operator of a vessel having non-contrasting CF numbers. While in contact, officers discovered the owner was on parole and also had some “seal bombs” in his possession, in violation of the terms of his parole. The owner voluntarily surrendered five seal bombs. Officers issued a written warning for the non-contrasting CF numbers.
Dec. 2 • 11:40 a.m. Harbor Patrol officers responded to a report of a stolen paddleboat. A citizen reported the vessel was on the beach by the sand trap. Officers towed the paddleboat to the owner and released it.
Dec. 2 • 1:30 p.m. Harbor Patrol officers observed buoys for two commercial lobster traps in the sand trap. Both traps were sanded in and could not be recovered. Officers cut the lines to minimize risk to boats.
Dec. 3 • 5:55 p.m. Harbor Patrol officers observed a disabled vessel in the main Channel. Officers took the vessel in tow and released it at the launch ramp.

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
Nov. 29 • 6:34 a.m. Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol officers contacted the operator of a small, unlit power-driven skiff coming into the harbor from the anchorage. A large crewboat astern of the skiff had abruptly changed course at the last moment to avoid collision with the small boat. The skiff operator told officers he had a light, but wasn’t aware it needed to be in use during periods of low visibility. Officers informed him of the law and safety parameters. The operator stated he didn’t agree with the law, but he would follow it in the future.
Dec. 4 • 2:50 p.m. Harbor Patrol officers assisted a visitor in locating her iPhone and purse that went missing the previous night during a visit downtown. Using a GPS locating app on her phone, officers located the items aboard a commercial fishing boat. A crewmember was interviewed, the items were returned to the owner and the case was turned over to the district attorney’s office for review.
Dec. 5 • 1:40 p.m. Harbor Patrol officers responded to a report of a 35-foot sailboat aground off West Beach. Officers towed the boat off the beach and interviewed the operator after reportedly smelling alcohol. Officers determined the operator was not legally intoxicated and warned him about reckless/negligent operation. A boating safety class was strongly advised.
Dec. 11 • 11:40 p.m. Harbor Patrol officers responded to a report of six youths with skateboards aboard a boat in one of the marinas. Neighbors who knew the boat owner told officers they had never seen the kids before. Officers contacted the juveniles and questioned them about possible illegal entry. Parents were called to pick up the youths.