ROCKLAND — More than two years after the first false distress reports began, a potential hoax mayday caller continues to plague the Sector Northern New England Coast Guard, SNNE Deputy Commander Brian Gilda said in Rockland Friday, April 26. Hear a combined audio clip of several of the mayday calls here.

"[U]p in this area — Lincolnville area, Belfast area — we've had somebody getting on the radio, calling out, 'Mayday, mayday, mayday,'" Gilda said, referring to hoax calls as "one of the challenges we face."

The Coast Guard has spent more than $188,000 on sea and air responses to the hoax mayday caller, according to a May 2 press release, a male who made three false calls on April 23 and 25 over VHF-FM Channel 16, as well as at least 12 previous hoax calls. More than 50 hours of personnel time have been expended in search operations thus far.

"Most of the time we send the station out, and they go willingly, they know it's their job, without hesitation. But it's what we have to do, because the one time that we get a call and somebody's in distress, it's a tough thing," Gilda said.

"The Coast Guard treats every distress call very seriously and takes action to respond to those in need of assistance," said Lt. Nick Barrow, supervisor of the search-and-rescue command center in Portland. "Recent advances in technology, through the Rescue 21 communications system in particular, have made it easier to pinpoint an area from which a call originates, aid watch standers in determining if a real emergency exists, and investigate or correlate suspected hoax callers. In this case, we are asking for the public's help to further our efforts to identify who we believe to be a repeat offender in Penobscot Bay.

According to Chief Warrant Officer Sebastian Arnsdorf, commanding officer of Station Rockland, the Coast Guard's Rescue 21 — an advanced communications system that includes features such as voice recognition and geographic display — indicates the calls originate between Lincolnville and Islesboro.

Arnsdorf added the purported hoax calls, which occur during afternoon hours, are currently under investigation by the Coast Guard. Standard search protocols are followed despite the likely false nature of the mayday claims, but Arnsdorf said responding to fraudulent calls "degrades our service" and detracts from the Coast Guard's ability to respond to genuine mayday situations.

Money expended on responding to false claims is factored into search and rescue budgets, Arnsdorf said, but if the perpetrator is found and convicted, funds may be recuperated through fines.

"If [we could] catch the person, it'd be just as good if we can get this individual to stop," Gilda said. "If it's your neighbor, let us know, and we'll get that taken care of."

According to the press release, anyone who recognizes the voice in these mayday calls or has any information is encouraged contact the Coast Guard Investigative Service in Portland at (207) 780-3087. There is a reward of up to $1,000 to be paid for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the person involved with the hoax call.

To contact Bane Okholm, email news@penbaypilot.com.