Coast Guard continues search for Velopoula tank ship mariner north of Samana, Dominican Republic

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Coast Guard rescue crews continue searching Monday for a missing crewman, who reportedly fell overboard Saturday from the Greek flagged oil tanker Velopoula, approximately 135 nautical miles north of Samana, Dominican Republic.

Coast Guard rescue crews launched an aerial and surface search Saturday for the 24-year-old Greek mariner after Coast Guard Watchstanders in Sector San Juan received a satellite communication from the master of the 748-foot Velopoula reporting the incident.

The mariner reportedly was last seen at 12 p.m. Saturday and was noticed missing four hours later.

Coast Guard rescue crews are searching Monday aboard a Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft from Air Station Miami and the Coast Guard Cutter Farallon.

The Velapoula was transiting from Aruba to Staten Island, N.Y. at the time the mariner went missing.

Coast Guard rescue crews completed four searches during the weekend aboard a Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft from Air Station Miami, a HC-130J Hercules aircraft from Air Station Clearwater Fla., and the Coast Guard Cutter Farallon.

Coast Guard Cutter Farallon is a 110-foot patrol boat home ported in San Juan, Puerto Rico.