Coast Guard Scours Massachusetts Waters for Survivors

A commercial fishing boat with seven people on board, including a NOAA observer, sank 25 miles off the coast of Cape Ann, Massachusetts. The US Coast Guard got an emergency alert at 6:50 a.m. and sprang into action, but so far, they’ve only found one body and a whole lot of debris.

Search Efforts Underway

The Coast Guard’s launched an all-out search, with an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and a small boat crew scouring the area. They’ve even diverted a cutter to help with the search. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey says the state’s offering its full support, and she’s ‘heartbroken’ over the news.

The crew of the Lily Jean was featured on a 2012 episode of ‘Nor’Easter Men’, a History Channel show that highlighted their fishing expedition in rough weather. The boat’s captain, Gus Sanfilippo, was a fifth-generation commercial fisherman. State Sen. Bruce Tarr says Sanfilippo’s a skilled fisherman and a great guy, and he’s predicting the community will come together to support the families of the missing crew members.

It’s a tough time for the fishing community in Gloucester, which is already reeling from the loss. The city’s about 30 miles north of Boston, and it’s got a rich fishing history. Let’s hope the Coast Guard can find some survivors and bring them home to their families.