WOOD’S HOLE, Mass. — After an extensive multi-agency search for the overdue fishing vessel Seahorse led by Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England, the vessel was found off of Eastham in Cape Cod Bay on Wednesday afternoon.
It was reported a recreational fisherman discovered the 30-foot white-hulled vessel while trolling near the search area on Wednesday. Coast Guard Cutter William Sparling (WPC-1154) arrived on scene within 30 minutes. Divers from the Massachusetts Environmental Police (MEP) and Massachusetts State Police (MSP) were also on scene. It was reported that MEP and MSP identified the vessel as the Seahorse and found two people onboard, presumably deceased. The next of kin were notified.
The harbormaster from Orleans reported the vessel overdue Tuesday morning to watchstanders at the U.S Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England command center after noticing the owners truck in the marina parking lot for two days. It was reported that the vessel was known to fish in the area near Billingsgate Shoals and usually returned the same day.
The Coast Guard issued an urgent marine information broadcast Tuesday morning to notify the public and launched Stations Chatham, Cape Cod Canal, and Provincetown to search the fishing area within Cape Cod Bay. Search efforts also targeted the location of the last known cell phone ping from the owner’s phone, which was approximately two miles offshore from Chatham.
Partners from the Cape Cod Mutual Response System consisting of MEP, MSP, National Park Service, and local fire and police departments from Hyannis, Eastham, Wellfleet, Orleans, and Fishing Partnership along with members of the fishing community searched shorelines, marinas, and fishing piers for the vessel. Crews from the cutter William Sparling conducted an overnight search operation on Tuesday night.
Search efforts continued Wednesday morning with a Coast Guard HC-144 aircrew from Air Station Cape Cod and a State Police helicopter.
“Our hearts go out to the families of both persons onboard,” says U.S. Coast Guard Cmdr. Cliff Graham, search and rescue mission coordinator for the case. “The level of support from our maritime response partners and members from the fishing and local community was remarkable. It directly contributed to detection of the vessel and closure for the family.”
The partner agencies that assisted in the search:
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Wellfleet, Orleans, Nantucket, Chatham, Rock Harbor harbormasters
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Hyannis, Wellfleet, Orleans, Eastham, Barnstable Fire and Police Departments
The incident remains under investigation.
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