MIAMI — Coast Guard crews are searching for eight people including five Honduran citizens, one Canadian citizen and two U.S. citizens, reported overdue aboard a 28-foot 100 horsepower outboard engine pleasure craft with a white hull and top.
Watchstanders at the Seventh Coast Guard District in Miami received a report of a center-console motor vessel that departed the west end of Roatan, Honduras at approximately 3 p.m. Saturday en route to the Utila Island, Honduras. A family member of two U.S. citizens aboard the vessel reported they never arrived in Utila Island as anticipated.
Upon receiving notification, the Coast Guard immediately began search and rescue coordination efforts with the Rescue Coordination Center in Cocensa, Honduras and issued an Enhanced Group Call (EGC). An HC-130 Hercules aircraft crew from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Fla., launched, assisted by UH-60 helicopter and C-12 aircraft crews attached to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). Honduran navy vessels are also assisting in the search.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the Coast Guard and its partner agencies have searched more than 596 square miles without any sign of the vessel.
“We will continue to do whatever we can to try and locate the missing boaters,” said LCDR Gabe Somma, Public Affairs Officer for the Seventh Coast Guard District. “We are fortunate to have strong interagency relationships and are poised to continue to assist our international agency partners as needed.”
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of the vessel is urged to contact Seventh Coast Guard District watchstanders at 305-415-6683.
