On 12/17/2023, at 10:28 P.M. divers with the Tampa Police Department located and recovered a body on board the submerged vessel. Release of information is pending next-of-kin notifications.
Clean up efforts are still being conducted by the United States Coast Guard. The spill was successfully contained to the Mccay Bay area.
Specific details related to the HAZMAT issue will come from the USCG.
This incident is still under investigation, any further information will be released through the Tampa Police Department’s Public Information Office.
***END OF UPDATE***
**PREVIOUS ALERT AS OF 12/17/2023 AT 1:15 P.M.**
TAMPA POLICE SEARCHING FOR MISSING BOAT CAPTAIN AT 2600 BLOCK OF CAUSEWAY BLVD
Location: 2600 Block of Causeway Blvd
Date: 12/16/2023
Time: 7:42 A.M.
Early this morning the Tampa police department received multiple reports of a shrimp boat being submerged underwater.
Tampa Officers arrived on scene and located a 63 ft vessel named “Miss Jordi”, underwater. The vessel also leaked thousands of gallons of diesel fuel into the water.
The boats captain, Curtis Lee Cowling, was last seen on 12/16/2023 at 11:00 p.m. Cowling is now listed as “Missing and Endangered” (Picture attached to media alert).
Currently officials are unable to confirm the captain’s whereabouts. Due to the amount diesel fuel contaminating the water this is currently being treated as a HAZMAT scene, preventing dive teams from entering the water.
The United States Coast Guard is leading the HAZMAT efforts. HCSO is also working with Tampa Police to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
This incident is still under investigation, any further information will be released through the Tampa Police Department’s Public Information Office.
Although it is believed that Cowling lives on the boat full time, it is unknown if he was on the boat when it submerged. Anyone with information regarding Curtis Lee Cowling can contact Tampa Police at 813-231-6130.
Officer Filer, Stefon
Tampa Police Department
Office: 813-276-3255
After Hours: 813-276-3252