One dead and six missing as fishing boat out of historic Massachusetts port is lost at sea | Massachusetts
The commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean, sailing in the frigid Atlantic Ocean en route to Gloucester, Massachusetts, the oldest fishing port in the United States, made no distress call Friday morning. The coast guard was notified with the beacon that warned when the boat hit the water.
When rescuers arrived at the scene, they found one person dead and floating in the water along with a debris field and an empty lifeboat. Six people are still missing.
The fate of the Lily Jean, a 70-foot fishing vessel owned by a beloved member of Gloucester’s historic fishing community, is the latest maritime tragedy to befall America’s oldest port. The city that inspired Perfect Storm is tied to a fishing heritage that spans 400 years of history and sometimes tragedy. This book and movie are inspired by FV Andrea Gail, who was lost at sea in 1991.
“We will continue to search throughout the night,” said Coast Guard Commander Timothy Jones, who coordinated the search and rescue. He noted that sea spray freezes on ships, posing a serious danger to both the lost fishing boat and rescuers.
Lily Jean; captain Gus Sanfilippo; and his crew appeared on a 2012 episode of the History Channel show Nor’Easter Men. Sanfilippo is described as a fifth-generation commercial fisherman who fishes Georges Bank in Gloucester, Massachusetts. The crew is seen working for hours in dangerous weather conditions, catching whiting, lobster and halibut in a single trip for up to 10 days at sea.
Republican state senator Bruce Tarr, who confirmed there were seven people on the ship, became emotional when talking about Sanfilippo, a good friend.
“He is a person with a big smile and gives you a warm hug when he sees you,” Tarr said. “He is very, very talented at what he does.”
Tarr said that given the captain’s experience, “it’s very difficult to comprehend the fact that the ship is at the bottom of the ocean right now.”
“This is a community that has felt these kinds of losses in the past,” Tarr said. “I’m going to make a prediction. Tonight, tomorrow and the days after, no matter what, you’ll see the power, the power that makes this the most historic fishing port in the United States.”
Jamie Frederick, the Coast Guard’s Boston area commander, acknowledged that frigid temperatures, stormy conditions and vast ocean make it difficult to find survivors at night; That task has become even more difficult with the Northeast approaching the east coast this weekend.
“This is the equivalent of searching for coconuts in the ocean,” Frederick said.
At the time of the emergency alert, the National Weather Service said offshore wind speeds were about 27 mph (24 knots) and waves were about 4 feet high. The temperature was 12F (-11C) and water temperatures were around 39F (4C).
Deep sea fishing in New England can be dangerous at any time, but can be especially dangerous during the winter months due to high waves, freezing temperatures, and unpredictable weather conditions. Commercial fishing is often cited as one of the most dangerous jobs in the world.
Everett Sawyer, 55, a childhood friend of Sanfilippo, said reports of his disappearance are still being investigated. “He was a hard worker. He loved fishing,” he said.
After living and working near the Atlantic Ocean for more than five decades, Sawyer said he knows 25 people lost at sea. Cold winter conditions can make operations difficult even for experienced sailors, Sawyer said.
“When you get out in the ocean, everything happens so fast,” he said.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Friday it was aware that a fisheries monitor was on the ship. Fisheries monitors are workers on fishing vessels who collect data for the government to use to inform regulations.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey said she was “heartbroken” to hear the boat had sunk.
“I pray for the crew and my heart goes out to their loved ones and all the Gloucester fishing families during this terrible time,” he said in a statement. “Fishermen and fishing boats form the basis of the history, economy and culture of Gloucester and Cape Ann, and this tragedy is felt throughout the state.”
