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The U.S. Coast Guard has identified the seven individuals who perished when a commercial fishing boat from Gloucester, Massachusetts, sank on Friday. The tragic incident occurred 25 miles off the coast of Cape Ann in icy waters.
At approximately 6:50 a.m. on Friday, Coast Guard watchstanders received an alert from an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) associated with the 72-foot fishing vessel, Lily Jean.
Efforts to communicate with the vessel were unsuccessful, prompting officials to issue an urgent marine information broadcast (UMIB) to alert nearby vessels of the situation.
Over a 24-hour period, a comprehensive search was conducted by multiple aircraft, cutters, and small boats, covering an area of 1,047 square miles. Search teams discovered debris near the EPIRB’s activation site, along with one body and an empty life raft that had been deployed.
In Gloucester, a crucifix crafted by a friend of the Lily Jean’s captain is displayed on the pier at the vessel’s homeport, serving as a poignant tribute to the lives lost at sea. (Photo by Charles Krupa/AP)
Search and rescue mission coordinators, on-scene commanders and the Coast Guard determined on Saturday all reasonable search efforts for the missing crew members had been exhausted.
The crew members presumed dead have been identified as: captain Accursio “Gus” Sanfilippo; crew member Paul Beal Sr.; crew member Paul Beal Jr.; crew member John Rousanidis; crew member Freeman Short; crew member Sean Therrien; and NOAA fisheries observer Jada Samitt.
Sanfilippo, a fifth-generation commercial fisherman, and his crew were featured in a 2012 episode of the History Channel show “Nor’Easter Men,” highlighting a fishing expedition in dangerous weather conditions, The Associated Press reported.Â
Christine Porper of Gloucester, Mass., pauses at the fisherman’s memorial, Monday, near the homeport of the fishing boat Lily Jean that sank with seven crew on board. (Charles Krupa/AP Photo)
Rear Adm. Michael Platt, commander of the Coast Guard Northeast District, has directed a district-level formal investigation, which is typically launched for incidents of “significant regional importance” or those that may reveal broader issues with a class of vessel or areas of technical concern.
Lt. Cmdr. Brett Igo, Coast Guard Northeast District investigation oversight coordinator, will serve as the lead investigating officer, receiving evidence and testimony using formal rules and procedures.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will also participate in the investigation.
Authorities are investigating after a fishing boat disappeared off the coast of Gloucester, Mass., on Friday. (Robert F. Bukaty/AP Photo)
Based on its findings, the incident may be reviewed by a Marine Board of Investigation (MBI).
“The purpose of a Coast Guard investigation is to identify measures that can improve the safety of life and property at sea, not to assign civil or criminal blame,” the Coast Guard wrote in a statement.
The investigation is expected to take several months to complete.
The Coast Guard declined to answer additional inquiries from Fox News Digital.