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Tag: Missing

Canis Majoris

Canis Majoris

Hubbard

On the evening of February 20, the 43 foot long fishing vessel Canis Majoris went missing in the Nichols Passage near Thorne Bay, Prince of Wales Island, Alaska. The Coast Guard was alerted by the fishing vessel’s EPIRB and launched a search and rescue operation. The Coast Guard deployed a helicopter from Sitka along with a fast response boat from Ketchikan and the 46 meter long cutter John McCormick to search the area. The 86 meter long, 6096 dwt ro-ro passenger ferry Hubbard (IMO:9812808) was headed for Juneau was nearby and joined in the search.  The Hubbard found a life raft and floating debris but no survivors. The Coast Guard continued the search for another 25 hours before calling it off.  Authorities stated there was likely only one person onboard at the time the vessel was lost.

John McCormick

MV Butiraoi

MV Butiraoi

MV Butiraoi

The 17.5 meter long wooden catamaran ferry Butiraoi was reported missing in the Pacific Ocean in the Kiribati Islands. The Butiraoi had departed from Nonouti on January 18 bound for Betio. The voyage of 160 miles typically takes 2 days to complete failed to arrive on January 20.  A search began for the missing vessel including aircraft from New Zealand and Fiji.

Reports state no signs of the vessel or the 50 persons on board as of January 26. The search includes many small atolls in a wide area. Additional reports state the catamaran had undergone repairs to its propeller shaft just before departing Nonouti.

MV Butiraoi

Update:

A New Zealand aircraft spotted seven survivors in a small boat on a search on January 28. The aircraft dropped supplies to the survivors while authorities requested assistance from vessels in the area. The fishing vessel Lomalo which is 92 kilometers away from the survivors is expected to reach the survivors later the same day.

Survivors have told authorities over radio that the ferry had lost stability and capsized. They had little time and had just enough time to get into the small dinghy before the ferry sank. The dinghy had no engine or water on board.

Reports state additional debris has been spotted in the search area.

El Faro

El Faro

El Faro

The 242 meter long, 14971 dwt container ship El Faro went missing off Crooked Island, Bahamas.  On September 29, the El Faro departed from  Jacksonville, Florida bound for San Juan, Puerto Rico on a four day voyage with its 33 crew.  The following day a tropical storm  intensified into Hurricane Joaquin.   Hurricane Joaquin increases intensity on October 1 with winds reaching up to 120 miles per hour.  The El Faro continued on its heading into the hurricane.  Later in the day, the crew reported the container ship had suffered water ingress and lost power as it passed Crooked Island.  One crewman on the El Faro sent an email stated the vessel had sustained a list and continued to suffer water ingress.  Soon after communication was lost with the El Faro.

On October 2, the Coast Guard dispatches  a cutter along with helicopters to begin a search for the El Faro.  The initial search was unable to find any sign of the vessel.  The search continues on the following day when  a life ring is spotted in the water near Crooked Island.  The search continues into the third day when the Coast Guard finds a debris field and oil sheen on the surface. A container is also spotted and it is latter identified coming from the El Faro.  Search and rescue continues when the Coast Guard finds the body of one of the crew members of the El Faro.  Reports state the crewman was wearing a survival suit.  The El Faro lifeboat is later found empty.