HONOLULU — The Coast Guard suspended the search Thursday for the master of the 622-foot freight ship Toscana reported overboard approximately 60 miles east of Wake Island.
“We have exhausted all available resources in our efforts, but pending further developments, we have decided to suspend the active search,” said Michael Cobb, command duty officer at the Coast Guard Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu.
The Coast Guard conducted an extensive search of the area, flying three sorties and covering approximately 2,000 square miles since Sunday.
Involved in the search were two HC-130 Hercules airplane crews from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point along with the Toscana.
Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Joint Rescue Coordination Center were notified at approximately 6 p.m. Saturday, regarding a 49-year-old male Polish national who was reported overboard from the Toscana.
The master was last seen at approximately 8 p.m. Friday. Twelve hours passed before the crew realized the master was missing.
An HC-130 Hercules airplane crew from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point was launched Saturday and staged out of Wake Island to conduct the searches.
The ship retraced its route to search for the missing crewmember, but continued on to its next port of call in Yokohama, Japan due to fuel limitations.
Weather conditions on scene were winds of approximately 15 mph, seas of 8 feet and a water temperature of approximately 81 degrees.
