Coast Guard suspends search for missing mariner 300-miles east of Hawaii

united states coast guard 

News Release  

U.S. Coast Guard 14th District Hawaii and the Pacific
Contact: 14th District Public Affairs
Office: (808) 535-3230
After Hours: HawaiiPacific@uscg.mil
14th District online newsroom

Coast Guard suspends search for missing mariner 300-miles east of Hawaii

HONOLULU — Coast Guard watchstanders suspended the search for the missing mariner, Phouc Nguyen, Friday evening 300-miles east of Hawaii.

Crews searched approximately 77 hours covering 8,821 square nautical miles, an area roughly the size of New Hampshire.

At 6:30 a.m., Wednesday, Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu watchstanders were notified by the fishing vessel St. Marieanne that Nguyen was missing. Upon notification, JRCC deployed Coast Guard assets to search the area with the help of the fishing vessel crew.

“We always want to continue searching with every asset at our disposal,” said Lt. Diane French, Command Duty Officer. “It’s always a difficult decision to suspend, but did at sundown pending any further new information, which can reactivate the search.”

Involved in the search was:

- The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Gerczak (WPC - 1126)
- The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Kimball (WMSL - 756) with sUAS Scan Eagle drone capabilities
- Air Station Barbers Point HC-130 aircrews
- Air Station Barbers Point MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter aircrews
- The crew of the fishing vessel St. Marianne

-USCG-