When Coast Guard comes home empty

The US Coast Guard is the 911 of boating, coming to aid when need is needed. However, their best efforts can’t always help the trouble of boaters. Here’s a stream of recent reports when they came home empty.

• The Coast Guard has suspended the search for a man who was seen entering Baltimore Harbor. Watchstanders from Coast Guard Sector Maryland-National Capitol Region command center launched a 29-foot Response Boat-Small II boatcrew from Coast Guard Station Curtis Bay, Maryland and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, New Jersey. The Coast Guard searched a total of 16 square miles over the course of approximately 7 hours. – Full report

• The Coast Guard suspended the search in Key West, Florida for missing boater, 35-year-old Jason Heath, pending new information. Heath’s father reported to Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstanders that his son was overdue. “Our sincere condolences go out to the family and friends of Jason Heath,” said Capt. Adam Chamie, commanding officer, Sector Key West. “The decision to suspend a search is never easy.” – Full report

• The Coast Guard suspended the search for a 44-year-old man in the vicinity of Frying Pan Shoals, North Carolina. The mariner was seen on surveillance footage leaving the Federal Point Yacht Club on his 19-foot SeaCraft vessel. The Coast Guard searched a total of approximately 7,498 square miles over the course of 53 hours. – Full report

• The Coast Guard has suspended its search for a man overboard from the motor vessel American Queen near Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Rescue crews searched for more than 100 miles of the Lower Mississippi River for approximately 32 hours. – Full report

• The Coast Guard has suspended the search for a missing fisherman 90 miles offshore Galveston, Texas. The Coast Guard searched approximately 3,087 square miles for over 25 search hours. – Full report