HONOLULU — The Coast Guard suspended the search at sunset Thursday for 3 fishermen who went missing when their vessel capsized off the North Shore of Oahu, Sunday.
Jensen Loo, Clint Oshima and Derek Tomas remain missing.
“To suspend an active search and rescue case without definitive resolution is one of the most difficult decisions to make,” said Capt. Michael Long, commander, Coast Guard Sector Honolulu. “We saturated the area in an attempt to locate these men with Coast Guard and partner agency crews, but pending further developments, we are suspending the active search. Our condolences and thoughts are with their friends and loved ones. A special thanks to our Department of Defense and local agency partners for their assistance in this case.”
On-scene assets searched a total area of more than 27,600 square miles and deployed five self-locating datum marker buoys over four days. The search area began off the North Shore, but extended as far west as Kauai and north up to nearly 100 miles offshore, based on drift models.
Involved in the search were:
- HC-130 Hercules airplane and MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crews from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point
- Crews of the Coast Guard Cutter Kiska (WPB-1336) from Hilo and Coast Guard Cutter Ahi (WPB-87364) from Honolulu
- Response boat crews from Coast Guard Station Honolulu and Coast Guard Station Kauai
- Navy P-3 airplane crews, a Navy SH-60 helicopter crew and Marine Corps UH-1Y helicopter crews from Kaneohe Bay
- Hawaii County Fire Department jet ski and helicopter crews
The Iwa was spotted overturned by the Coast Guard approximately 25 miles off of Haleiwa Boat Harbor during Monday’s search. They were originally reported overdue from a fishing trip by a family member late Sunday.
An Urgent Marine Information Broadcast was issued alerting mariners in the area to keep a sharp lookout and report any sightings to the Coast Guard Sector Honolulu Command Center and crews were dispatched Sunday night to begin the search.
