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Blackline GPS Instrumental in Million Dollar Recovery Aided by Harpoon GPS
PUNTA GORDA, FLORIDA (USA) – In the early morning hours, a boat owner's captain was provided with a warning notification that the owner's 50-foot Sea Ray, equipped with Blackline GPS's Harpoon marine product, was being stolen by thieves. Awaken to the alert, prompted by the Harpoon products' GPS security features, the boat captain called the US Coast Guard and reported the theft. Three US Coast Guard aircraft and two Coast Guard Cutters vigorously pursued the vessel which was being tracked in real time by Blackline GPS technology as it made its way towards Mexico. The thieves, intent on reaching Mexico, were diverted towards Cuba as a result of the pursuing US Coast Guard who caught up to the luxury cruiser.
Troy Bettencourt of the Punta Gorda Police Department reported to NBC News, "It was identified by the United States Coast Guard and tracked. It was in Cuban waters where it was then intercepted by the Cuban border guard."
The stolen yacht reached Cuban waters, preventing the US Coast Guard from continuing their own pursuit outside US jurisdiction. Shortly thereafter, the yacht ran out of fuel providing Cuban authorities the opportunity to seize the vessel and arrest the suspected smugglers who are now in Cuban custody where they remain confined to a detention center while awaiting legal proceedings.
International Marine Underwriters, the
insurer of the Sea Ray, has communicated with Cuban officials in
order to begin the process of repatriation of the yacht.
Clark Swanson, Blackline CEO said, "Without the owners astute
decision to install a Harpoon GPS on his yacht, the million plus
dollar Sea Ray would have likely resulted in total loss, never
to be recovered." He continued, "Harpoon has become ingratiated
within the marine community. This owner, like many others, has
experienced our commitment to service and value. This commitment
extends to law enforcement and the financial insurance community
which ultimately benefits the entire marine industry".
Many insurance companies now offer premium discounts when GPS tracking devices are installed. For certain types of boats, such as high performance boats and those with triple high-horsepower outboards, GPS tracking devices are now required in order to obtain insurance.
About Harpoon GPS:
Blackline's Harpoon GPS is the marine industry's first GPS-based
active recovery solution. Permanently installed on boats, the
unit combines cellular networks, top-tier GPS tracking and
tamper-sensing technology that activates from the boat owner's
keychain. Real-time GPS tracking allows boaters to see the
precise location of their watercraft. Harpoon GPS offers
unmatched security features such as perimeter and tampering
alerts, operating in both water and land modes. GPS Monitoring &
Recovery Service is triggered instantly if a breach occurs,
notifying the boat owner via email and text message (SMS).
Simultaneously, the recovery center is contacted where Blackline
personnel verify the boat's status and work with authorities on
the recovery process in the event of theft. For more
information, please visit
www.blacklinegps.com/products/harpoon/features.html
Contact Blackline GPS:
Clark Swanson, President & CEO
Phone: 403 451-0327
