Coast Guard Suspends Search For Crew Of Missing Fishing Boat

The Coast Guard has suspended the search for the missing crewmembers of the fishing boat Lily Jean after search efforts yielded no results.

Coast Guard officials suspended the search Saturday morning, January 31 after searching since Friday morning. On Friday, rescue crews found one body, a debris field, and an empty life boat.

According to Coast Guard officials, rescue crews began a search and rescue response after they received an emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) activation from a fishing vessel 25 miles off the coast of Cape Ann at around 6:50 a.m. Friday, January 30. Coast Guard officials said the EPIRB alert was registered to the 72-foot fishing vessel Lily Jean. Seven crewmembers were aboard the vessel.

The Coast Guard attempted to contact the vessel with no response and issued an urgent marine information broadcast.

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Cape Cod and a small boat crew from Station Gloucester responded to search the area. Coast Guard Cutter Thunder Bay 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. It had reportedly been deployed but was 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.

This article was updated at 11:50 a.m. on Saturday, January 31.