Coast Guard continues search for missing fishermen near Block Island, RI
by U.S. Coast Guard 1st District Northeast 2 Jan 2019 15:26 UTC
US Coast Guard in action © Sam Greenfield / Volvo Ocean Rac
Multiple Coast Guard crews and good Samaritans searched throughout the day Tuesday for two missing fishermen after their boat capsized and sank approximately two and half miles southeast of Block Island, Rhode Island.
The captain of the fishing vessel Mistress notified watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England at around 1:30 a.m. that the boat was taking on water.
The watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast to vessels in the area to request assistance for the crew of the Mistress.
The fishing boat Captain Bligh responded and rescued one crew member from a life boat. The remaining two crew members have not been located.
Low visibility and poor weather conditions hampered initial searches, but multiple crews launched as visibility improved.
The following crews searched a 375 square nautical mile area:
- Coast Guard Cutter Sanibel
- Coast Guard Cutter Steelhead
- Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba
- An Air Station Cape Cod MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft
- A 45-foot response boat from Station Point Judith
- A 47-foot Motor Lifeboat from Station Menemsha
Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba and Steelhead are expected to stay on scene through the night.
Update: Coast Guard suspends search for missing fishermen near Block Island, RI
Coast Guard crews suspended their search for two missing fishermen near Block Island, Rhode Island Wednesday at approximately 5:13 p.m.
The two fishermen have been missing since their boat Mistress capsized and sank Tuesday morning.
The fishing boat Captain Bligh initially responded to the scene and rescued one fisherman from a lifeboat.
Crews searched for approximately 72 hours covering 2,152 square nautical miles.
The search included the following crews:
- Coast Guard Cutter Sanibel
- Coast Guard Cutter Steelhead
- Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba
- Coast Guard Cutter Albacore
- Air Station Cape Cod MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crews and HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane crews
- 45-foot response boat crews from Station Point Judith
- 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crews from Station Menemsha