There was no mayday call from the commercial fishing vessel Lilly Jean on Friday morning as it navigated the chilly Atlantic Ocean on its way home to Gloucester. Massachusettsthe US’s oldest fishing port. The coast guard is informed by the boat’s beacon, which alerts it when it hits water.
When rescuers arrived, they found a field of debris and an empty lifeboat, along with a dead man floating in the water. The whereabouts of six others are still unknown.
The fate of the 72-foot fishing vessel Lily Jean, a beloved member of Gloucester’s historic fishing community, is the latest maritime tragedy to hit America’s oldest port. A city that inspires The Perfect Storm Its fishing heritage is intertwined with 400 years of history and sometimes tragedy. The book and film were inspired by the FV Andrea Gale, lost at sea in 1991.
“We will continue to search throughout the night,” said Coast Guard Commander Timothy Jones, who is coordinating the search and rescue. He noted that the sea spray froze on the ships and posed a serious danger to the missing fishing boat and rescuers.
Lily Jean; its captain, Gus Sanfilippo; And his crew was featured in a 2012 episode of the History Channel show Nor’easter Men. Sanfilippo is described as a fifth-generation commercial fisherman, fishing from Gloucester, Massachusettsat Georges Bank. The crew is shown working long hours in dangerous weather conditions, spending 10 days at sea on a trip for haddock, lobster and tuna.
Republican state Sen. Bruce Tarr, who confirmed there were seven people on board, became emotional as he spoke about his good friend, Sanfilippo.
“He’s a guy with a big smile, and he’ll give you a warm hug when he sees you,” Tarr said. “He’s very good at what he does.”
“It’s hard to understand that the ship is now at the bottom of the ocean,” says Tarr, based on the captain’s experience.
“This is a community that has experienced this type of loss in the past,” Tarr said. “I’m going to make a prediction. Tonight, tomorrow and the following days, no matter what happens, you’re going to see the strength, the strength that made this the most historic fishing port in the United States.”
The Coast Guard’s Boston Sector Commander, Jamie Frederick, said cold temperatures, stormy conditions and open seas make it difficult to get survivors out at night, a task made even more challenging by a nor’easter approaching the East Coast this weekend.
“That’s like looking for a coconut in the ocean,” Frederick said.
At the time of the emergency warning, the National Weather Service reported sea winds of around 27 mph (24 knots) with waves up to four feet high. It is 12F (-11C) with water temperatures around 39F (4C).
Deep sea fishing in New England is always dangerous, but is especially dangerous in the winter due to high tides, cold temperatures and unpredictable weather. Commercial fishing is often cited as one of the most dangerous jobs in the world.
Sanfilippo’s childhood friend Everett Sawyer, 55, said he was still processing the news of his disappearance. “He was a hard worker. He loved to fish,” he said.
After living and working near the Atlantic Ocean for more than five decades, Sawyer said he knows about 25 people who have been lost at sea. Cold winter conditions can make operations difficult even for experienced sailors, Sawyer said.
“Things happen so quickly when you’re at sea,” he said.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Friday that a fisheries observer was on board. Fishery observers are workers who collect data on fishing boats used by the government to inform regulations.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey said she was “heartbroken” to hear of the boat’s sinking.
“I am praying for the crew, and my heart goes out to their loved ones and all Gloucester fishing families at this terrible time,” she said in a statement. “Fishermen and fishing vessels are central to the history, economy and culture of Gloucester and Cape Ann, and this tragedy was felt across the state.”
