Coast Guard searching for missing fishermen

News Release

November 01, 2014

U.S. Coast Guard

Contact: 1st District Public Affairs

Coast Guard rescues one from life raft, searches for others
BOSTON — Coast Guard search and rescue crews saved one person and are looking for two others after a fishing boat sank near Matinicus Island, Maine, Saturday.
Watchstanders at the 1st District Command Center in Boston, Massachusetts received an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) distress signal from the 45-foot fishing vessel No Limits, home ported in Cushing, Maine.
The command center crew contacted the master's family and confirmed he was underway with two others.
When numerous callouts to the vessel were unanswered, the Sector Northern New England Command center in Portland, Maine initiated a wide-scale rescue effort.
A Station Rockland rescue crew aboard a 47-foot motor lifeboat, an MH-60 Jayhawk Helicopter from Air Station Cape Cod, and the Maine Marine Patrol launched.
The air crew spotted a flare fired from a survivor inside a life raft and safely hoisted him aboard. He was taken to Maine Medical Hospital, in Portland.
"We safely recovered one crewman, and continue to search for the others," said Chief Petty Officer Aaron Clendaniel, the command duty officer at Sector Northern New England.
"We have many units covering the area, with plans to add additional assets this evening," he said.

Saving Lives and Guarding the Coast Since 1790.
The United States Coast Guard -- Proud History. Powerful Future.

Coast Guard suspends search for missing fishermen near Matinicus Island, Maine
BOSTON — The Coast Guard suspended the search for two missing fishermen near Matinicus Island, Maine, Sunday pending further developments.

Coast Guard air and sea assets from Station Rockland and Air Station Cape Cod, as well as the Maine Marine Patrol, searched for more than 17 hours covering an area of 130 nautical square miles.
Initially, watchstanders at the 1st District Command Center in Boston, Massachusetts received an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) distress signalSaturday afternoon from the 45-foot fishing vessel No Limits, home ported in Cushing, Maine.
The command center crew contacted the master's family and confirmed he was underway with two others.
When numerous callouts to the vessel were unanswered, the 1st District Command Center and the Sector Northern New England Command center in Portland, Maine initiated a wide-scale rescue effort.
A Station Rockland rescue crew aboard a 47-foot motor lifeboat, an MH-60 Jayhawk Helicopter from Air Station Cape Cod, and the Maine Marine Patrol launched.
The air crew spotted a flare fired from a survivor inside a life raft and safely hoisted him aboard. He was taken to Maine Medical Hospital, in Portland.
There were no signs of the other two after the multi-agency search.

"Whenever our fellow mariners remain missing, especially after an extensive search, it has a huge impact on all us in the local coastal community," said Lt. Cdmr. Timm Balunis, the search and rescue coordinator at Sector Northern New England in Portland, Maine.

"We ask the community to keep the missing crew and their families in their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time," he said.

Saving Lives and Guarding the Coast Since 1790.
The United States Coast Guard -- Proud History. Powerful Future.