UPDATE 2 AND FINAL: Coast Guard suspends search for 2 missing in Marmot Bay, Alaska

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 07/01/2017 02:30 AM EDT

united states coast guard 

News Release  

June 30, 2017
U.S. Coast Guard 17th District PA Detachment Anchorage
Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment Anchorage
Office: (907) 428-4140
Cell: (907) 227-9248

UPDATE 2 AND FINAL: Coast Guard suspends search for 2 missing in Marmot Bay, Alaska

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The Coast Guard suspended the search late Friday night for a man and woman reported missing from the fishing vessel Miss Destinee that capsized in Marmot Bay, Thursday morning.

Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk and MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crews, the crews of the Coast Guard Cutter Sherman and Chandeleur, a Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Kodiak boat crew, as well as pararescueman with the 212th Rescue Squadron from the Alaska Air National Guard, searched  a 15-mile by 10-mile area in Marmot Bay for more than 35 hours to locate the two missing persons.

The pararescueman conducted diving operations in and around the fishing vessel Miss Destinee but were unable to locate the missing persons. The crew of the tug St. Michael also assisted with the search efforts. 

"We and our fellow military partners and the good Samaritans have heavy hearts after an extensive and difficult search in Marmot Bay," said Capt. Sean Mackenzie, commander of Coast Guard Sector Anchorage. "We conducted this search and rescue mission as if two of our own shipmates became missing. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the man and woman still missing."

 

A federal on-scene coordinator representative from Sector Anchorage is en route to Kodiak to oversee commercial salvage operations. The vessel Sea Strike is scheduled to arrive later tonight with divers aboard to commence salvage operations to recover the Miss Destinee. The Coast Guard Cutter Chandeleur and crew remain on scene. 

 

Watchstanders at Sector Anchorage received a mayday transmission over VHF-FM channel 16 from the good Samaritan vessel El Caporal at approximately 7:30 a.m., Thursday, to coordinate a search for the missing boaters.

 

Weather on scene was 11-mph winds, 4 to 5-foot seas and 6 miles visibility. 

 

Original press release.

 

Update 1 press release.

 

-USCG-