GLOUCESTER – From U.S. Coast Guard: The U.S. Coast Guard Northeast District is conducting a search and rescue response following an emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) activation from a fishing vessel 25 miles off the coast of Cape Ann, Friday morning.
F/V Lily Jean
(from the vessel’s Facebook page)
At approximately 6:50 AM, Coast Guard watchstanders received an EPIRB alert registered to the 72-foot fishing vessel Lily Jean. The total number of people aboard the vessel is unknown.
The Coast Guard attempted to contact the vessel with no response and issued an urgent marine information broadcast.
Northeast District watchstanders directed the launch of an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Cape Cod and a small boat crew from Station Gloucester to search the area. Coast Guard Cutter Thunder Bay (WTGB-108) was also diverted to assist the search.
The rescue crews located a debris field in the vicinity of the EPIRB activation. One unresponsive body was recovered from the water. A life raft associated with the vessel was found, but unoccupied.
Search efforts are ongoing.
The Coast Guard will provide updates as more details become available.
Via Flightradar24/CWN
Update from U.S. Coast Guard 11:00 AM Saturday: The U.S. Coast Guard suspended the search Saturday morning for the missing crewmembers from the fishing vessel Lily Jean after search efforts yielded no additional results.
Coast Guard crews have searched continuously since receiving an emergency position-indicating radio beacon activation Friday morning from the 72-foot fishing vessel, approximately 25 miles off the coast of Cape Ann, Massachusetts. Seven people were reported to be aboard the vessel.
During the search, Coast Guard air and surface crews located a debris field near the beacon’s reported position, recovered one unresponsive individual from the water, and located the vessel’s life raft, which was deployed but unoccupied.
Coast Guard crews conducted coordinated search patterns based on weather conditions, sea state and available evidence and covered approximately 1,047 square miles over 24 hours using multiple aircraft, cutters and small boats.
After consultation between search and rescue mission coordinators and on-scene commanders, the Coast Guard determined that all reasonable search efforts for the missing crewmembers had been exhausted.
“The decision to suspend the search was incredibly difficult. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the family members and friends of the lost crew of the Lilly Jean, and with the entire Gloucester community during this heartbreaking time,” said Capt. Jamie Frederick, commander of Coast Guard Sector Boston.
The cause of the incident is under investigation by the Coast Guard Northeast District.
