Device found off Port Everglades not explosive

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (WSVN) --Authorities have given the all-clear after a mine was found floating in the waters off Dania Beach.

A boater discovered the floating object just four miles off Dania Beach, at around 12 p.m., Thursday.

The boater suspected that the object was a mine and called the U.S. Coast Guard, who arrived at the scene, located the object, and kept a close eye on it as they called the Mayport Naval Air Station in Jacksonville.

Meanwhile, Hollywood Police and Broward Sheriff's Office deputies closed off a two-mile stretch of beach near the Dania Beach pier to ensure that the device did not present any threat to beach goers. "There were police everywhere. I mean, every exit we went to, we couldn't get in," said Jim Rafferty, who was not allowed to go to Hollywood Beach on Thursday.

Kathlyn Lecaurt was also prevented from going to the beach but did not know why. "The police officers just said we have to stay off the beach," she said.

The Navy's Explosive Ordinance Detail team drove from Jacksonville to the scene in Hollywood with police escorts, and arrived on scene Thursday night. The team determined that the device was a non-explosive piece of military training equipment and made sure it was properly handled.

Once the team gave the all-clear, the beach was reopened. "Yes, I am disappointed, but we'll come back again," Carol Ann Rafferty said.

The Navy is known for conducting practice drills off the Florida coastline. Back in December, a Navy training missile was found on Miami Beach.

The U.S. Navy said it remains unclear from where the piece of training equipment came: whether it originated from the U.S. Navy or another country's military.

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