BOSTON (AP) — A fishing vessel that went missing off the coast of Massachusetts was carrying a crew of seven people, a state senator said Friday. The Coast Guard launched a search and rescue mission early Friday after receiving an alert from the 72-foot Lily Jean about 25 miles off Cape Ann. They located a debris field near where the alert was sent along with a body in the water. It said it continued to be in search and rescue mode Friday evening.
Republican State Sen. Bruce Tarr told reporters late Friday that seven people were on the boat. 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.
The Coast Guard said it tried unsuccessfully to contact the vessel and then launched a search that included an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, a small boat crew, and the Coast Guard Cutter Thunder Bay. They found a debris field and recovered one person from the water who was unresponsive. They also found an empty life raft. The search began after the Coast Guard said it received an emergency alert from the 72-foot fishing vessel Lily Jean early Friday located about 25 miles offshore near Gloucester. It is unclear how many people were on the vessel, a ground fishboat that fished for cod, haddock, and pollock.
Gloucester is often described as America’s oldest working seaport, with a fishing industry that goes back more than 400 years. The city, where the reality television show 'Wicked Tuna' was based, has been the site of maritime tragedy over the years. Among them was the FV Andrea Gail, which went missing at sea in 1991. The loss of the Andrea Gail was the basis of the 1997 book and 2000 movie 'The Perfect Storm.'
The Lily Jean and its crew are not just names to the fishing community but part of a familial network within this historic trade. Vito Giacalone, head of the Gloucester Fishing Community Preservation Fund, shared his sorrow, stating that many in the local fishing industry are profoundly affected by the incident. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey expressed her heartbreak for the family and friends of the missing crew members, underlining the cultural significance of fishermen to the region.
As conditions out at sea remain perilous with high winds and freezing temperatures, the community remains vigilant and hopeful yet painfully aware of the dangers faced by those working on the ocean. Gloucester Council President Tony Gross encapsulated the collective feeling of loss, acknowledging the uncertainty that families endure during this tragic situation. As the search continues, the maritime community stands united in support of the crew and their families.
Republican State Sen. Bruce Tarr told reporters late Friday that seven people were on the boat. 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.
The Coast Guard said it tried unsuccessfully to contact the vessel and then launched a search that included an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, a small boat crew, and the Coast Guard Cutter Thunder Bay. They found a debris field and recovered one person from the water who was unresponsive. They also found an empty life raft. The search began after the Coast Guard said it received an emergency alert from the 72-foot fishing vessel Lily Jean early Friday located about 25 miles offshore near Gloucester. It is unclear how many people were on the vessel, a ground fishboat that fished for cod, haddock, and pollock.
Gloucester is often described as America’s oldest working seaport, with a fishing industry that goes back more than 400 years. The city, where the reality television show 'Wicked Tuna' was based, has been the site of maritime tragedy over the years. Among them was the FV Andrea Gail, which went missing at sea in 1991. The loss of the Andrea Gail was the basis of the 1997 book and 2000 movie 'The Perfect Storm.'
The Lily Jean and its crew are not just names to the fishing community but part of a familial network within this historic trade. Vito Giacalone, head of the Gloucester Fishing Community Preservation Fund, shared his sorrow, stating that many in the local fishing industry are profoundly affected by the incident. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey expressed her heartbreak for the family and friends of the missing crew members, underlining the cultural significance of fishermen to the region.
As conditions out at sea remain perilous with high winds and freezing temperatures, the community remains vigilant and hopeful yet painfully aware of the dangers faced by those working on the ocean. Gloucester Council President Tony Gross encapsulated the collective feeling of loss, acknowledging the uncertainty that families endure during this tragic situation. As the search continues, the maritime community stands united in support of the crew and their families.
