PORTLAND — U.S. Coast Guard Sector Northern New England suspended its search of Fore River where it believes two Mayday calls were made early this morning.

After two searches of the area, Coast Guard officials say the distress call was a hoax.

Chris Berry, a civilian search and rescue coordinator for the Coast Guard, said the call came in around 12:50 a.m. this morning by an adult female, who did not give her location. Berry said the caller said ‘Mayday’ twice and ‘Mayday’ twice again. Then, the caller said ‘Ten-7 on the Mayday,’

Berry said Coast Guard crews searched the waters at Fore River for about an hour after the call and for an hour this morning, but found no signs of distress.

“I believe it was a hoax,” he said. “We suspended the search pending further developments.”

The consequences of making a false distress call are severe. It’s a violation of the Federal Communications Act, a class D felony. It’s  punishable by five years in prison, a $250,000 criminal fine, and a $5,000 civil fine. The person could also be liable for any costs the Coast Guard incurs during the search. Berry said the penalty warnings are read nearly every day during its broadcast.

“We gets these calls many times a year,” he said. “We are trying to make people think twice. It doesn’t seem to help, but we keep trying.”

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