CAPE MAY, N.J. – The Coast Guard suspended its active search at 7:51 p.m. Wednesday for the four missing fishermen from the 71-foot fishing vessel Lady Mary, 75 miles off the coast of Cape May.
The extensive 37 hour search by the Coast Guard totaled a search area that covered 3,417 square nautical miles.
The search began after the Coast Guard 5th District command center watchstanders in Portsmouth, Va., received a 406 MHz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon alert from the Lady Mary at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday.
An MH-65C Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station Atlantic City, N.J., recovered two deceased fishermen Royal Smith Jr. and Timothy Smith, and rescued survivor Jose Luis Ariese.
Still missing are; Frank Reyes, Frankie Credle, William Torres, and Tarzon Smith.
The Coast Guard search assets included:
- Two MH-65C Dolphin helicopter crews from Air Station Atlantic City
- An MH-60J Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C.
- HC-130J Hercules air crews from Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C.
- Coast Guard Cutter Dependable from Cape May.
- CGC Finback from Cape May.
