Lily Jean, a 72-foot fishing vessel owned by a beloved member of Gloucester’s historic fishing community, is the latest maritime tragedy to befall America’s oldest seaport

BOSTON —BOSTON — 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 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.

Over 24 hours using multiple aircraft, cutters and small boats. 

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 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.  

All reasonable search efforts for the missing crewmembers 

.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.  Meanwhile the cause of the incident is under investigation by the Coast Guard Northeast District.

The U.S. Coast Guard Northeast District 

 It is noteworthy that 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. At approximately 6:50 a.m., 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. 

Coast Guard crews conducted coordinated search patterns 

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 rescue crews

 Meanwhile 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.  

The latest maritime tragedy 

The fate of the Lily Jean, a 72-foot fishing vessel owned by a beloved member of Gloucester’s historic fishing community, is the latest maritime tragedy to befall America’s oldest seaport. The city that inspired “The Perfect Storm” is tied to its fishing heritage in a way that has brought 400 years of history and, sometimes, tragedy. That book and movie were inspired by the FV Andrea Gail, which went missing at sea in 1991.

The History Channel show “Nor’Easter Men.

On the other hand the Lily Jean, its captain, Gus Sanfilippo, and his crew were featured in a 2012 episode of the History Channel show “Nor’Easter Men.” Sanfilippo is described as a fifth-generation commercial fisherman, fishing out of Gloucester, Massachusetts, in the Georges Bank. The crew is shown working in dangerous weather conditions for hours on end, spending as many as 10 days at sea on one trip fishing for haddock, lobster and flounder.

About US Coast Guard 

US Coast Guard the United States Coast Guard operates the federal maritime search-and-rescue system, responding to distress alerts through a nationwide network of aircraft, cutters and small craft while also enforcing maritime safety and environmental regulations.

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Source : Press - release + Others 

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