By: Staff Writer
January 5, 2021
The United States Coast Guard suspended its search on Friday for an overdue vessel between the Bahamas and South Florida, one day afterwards the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) marines suspended their search for the vessel as well.
Last week Tuesday, Coast Guard District Seven watchstanders received a report that a blue and white 29-foot Mako Cuddy Cabin vessel, last known to be departing Bimini, Bahamas, Monday, did not arrive as expected. The vessel and people were reported to be en route to Lake Worth, Florida.
The Coast Guard and partner agencies searched approximately 17,000 square miles, roughly double the size of Massachusetts, for about 84 hours before they gave up.
The Coast Guard in a statement on January 1, said: “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the missing people,” said Capt. Stephen V. Burdian, Seventh District Chief of Response. “I encourage anyone with information about the people aboard to contact us as soon as possible.”
The teams Involved in the search were: the Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater C-130 Hercules aircrew; Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew; Coast Guard Cutter Margaret Norvel crew; Coast Guard Cutter Robert Yered; Royal Bahamas Defence Force surface units; Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association air assets; and Patrick Air Force Base air asset.
The RBDF on their Facebook page a day afterwards, said: “The Royal Bahamas Defence Force has called off the search for an overdue craft that was reported missing earlier in the week.
“Commander William Sturrup, the RBDF’s Search and Rescue Coordinator shared that: “After some four days of canvassing an expansive area of waters around Bimini, the Berry Islands, Grand Bahama, and the Florida Straits as far north as Cape Carnaval, by members of the United States Coast Guard and BASRA, Search and Rescue operations for the vessel and occupants have been suspended”. He said, “If there is a new development in the case, we will resume search efforts. The Defence Force is grateful to interagency partners for their support in this activity and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force remains poised to keeping Bahamian waters safe”.
“The occupants were passengers aboard a 29-ft Mako vessel which departed Freeport, Grand Bahama on Monday, December 28, 2020, with 8 – 10 occupants, and was last seen leaving Bimini the following day, en route to Florida, USA.”
“The Royal Bahamas Defence Force remains committed to protecting the territorial integrity of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.”
(For further information please contact the RBDF Public Relations Department or visit our website: www.rbdf.gov.bs, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and view our Youtube channel)”
There were no details on what the boat was suspected to be doing, in that they were sports fishermen, or persons on a regular trip to Florida or some other pleasure trip. The details of the persons on board are also unknown.
This is very unusual for the U.S. Coast Guard to give up on a missing boat in waters they know very well.