Bell Buoys Stolen For Scrap? Lighthouse Mascot’s Urn Damaged?

Wow. Two different reports out of two different Coast Guard districts regarding vandalism to our nation’s navigational aids. The lighthouse involved is Toledo (Ohio) Harbor Lighthouse. The other vandalism, well actually, theft, is of coastal bell buoys in the state of Maine, which made me wonder about the mentality of the perpetrators. Photo at the left is of a bell buoy near Belfast, Maine. As you can see, it’s not exactly easily hauled away, although the thefts are of the bells and and gongs. Suspicions are running high that these are being sold as scrap metal.

From Coast Guard District 1

Buoy bells vanishing from Maine coast

Contact: Chief Warrant Officer Jeffrey Chase (207) 741-5442

The Coast Guard and Maine Marine Patrol are investigating a growing number of missing metal sound signals from buoys along the Maine coastline.

At least seven known buoys, primarily throughout the Down East Region, have had their bells and gongs removed and investigators suspect they are being stolen and sold.

“It’s possible that they are being sold to either nautical novelty shops or scrap metal yards,” said Chief Warrant Officer Jeffrey Chase, the aids to navigation officer at Sector Northern New England. In either case, he estimates the bells could land hundreds of dollars apiece.

As a deterrent, Chase said Coast Guard intelligence officials are working closely with local shops and scrap yards to identify missing property.

The missing bells and other hardware can cost taxpayers $400 to $1500 each to replace. If convicted, vandals are liable for the cost of repair and may also be punished under federal law with fines of up to $2,500 and imprisonment of up to one year.

Further, missing navigational aids put mariners in danger.

“It can be compared to someone stealing the traffic lights on a busy main street,” said Cmdr. Brian Downey of Sector Northern New England. “These signals are there to warn mariners of hazards. Both the visual and audible signals are critical to the safe navigation of vessels, from large tanker ships to fishing and recreational crafts.”

All mariners, harbormasters, and the boating public are urged to report any navigational aid discrepancies or suspicious activity to the nearest Coast Guard station or make an anonymous report to the Maritime Safety Information hotline at 1-800-682-1796.

From Coast Guard District 9

Coast Guard investigates vandalism of Toledo Harbor Light

Contact: Ninth Coast Guard District Investigators
(586) 239-6759

TOLEDO — The Coast Guard Investigative Service is investigating a report of vandalism to the Toledo Harbor Lighthouse after damage was discovered on Tuesday at approximately 2 p.m.

The specific date of damage to the lighthouse is unknown.

Coast Guard Station Toledo personnel were conducting routine maintenance when they discovered the damage. Station personnel reported stolen tools, burned papers, pulled electrical wiring and damage to an urn containing the remains of a former Station Toledo mascot.

Toledo Harbor Light is functioning properly.

Damage or the attempt to damage a navigational aid can result in a fine up to $250,000, up to 10 years imprisonment, or both.

Anyone with information on the vandalization of the lighthouse is requested to contact the Coast Guard Investigative Service at (586) 239-6759.

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Both these acts are truly despicable. If you can help, please contact the numbers listed above. And please, please, keep an eye on lighthouses and navigational aids while you are out doing your lighthouse visiting and photographing.

Photo credits:

• Bell Buoy in Belfast, ME by dugasj. Some rights reserved.
• Toledo Harbor Light by rskettler on Community Webshots.

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