Coast Guard Ends Search For Seattle Fishing Vessel; Crew Presumed Dead

SEATTLE, WA - The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended the search for the missing Seattle fishing vessel Destination. Authorities say the six crew members are presumed dead.

The Destination sent a distress signal Saturday morning from a location two miles off the coast of St. George, Alaska, an isolated island in the Bering Sea west of the Aleutian chain. When the Coast Guard arrived to search the area, they found nothing but debris, including a life ring, a buoy, and an oil sheen.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the six crewmembers during this extremely difficult time,” Rear Adm. Michael McAllister, Coast Guard 17th District commander, said in a statement. “The decision to suspend a search is always difficult and is made with great care and consideration.”

The Coast Guard and private vessels searched approximately 5,730 square nautical miles for the Destination or signs of its crew. Residents of St. George searched the island's shoreline. The Coast Guard committed helicopters, an airplane, and a cutter ship to the search. The private vessels Silver Spray and Bering Rose assisted the search.

“I’d like to thank the volunteers on St. George Island who conducted shoreline searches and the crewmembers of the fishing vessels Bering Rose and Silver Spray for helping with the search efforts,” McAllister added.

On Monday, Gail O'Grady, a Poulsbo resident, said that her husband, Larry, 55, has been a member of the Destination crew for 20 years, and has up to 30 years experience fishing in Alaska.

Michael Barcott, an attorney with Destination Inc., the company that owns the vessel, released a statement Monday about the suspension of the search.

"We thank the Coast Guard, all of the Good Samaritan vessels, and people of St. George Island who worked so long and hard to try to find our crew. These efforts were in the finest tradition of the sea. These men were professionals. Our hearts are broken for their loved ones who are now left with the certainty of this tragic sinking. We will work with the Coast Guard to attempt to understand what occurred with the hope that whatever can be learned will be used to help prevent such an event from happening again. Please keep these men and their families in your prayers.”

Although the search has been called off, the Coast Guard will continue to investigate the cause of the incident.

Image via U.S. Coast Guard