NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard suspended its search for two missing shrimpers from the fishing vessel Christopher’s Joy around 5 p.m., Thursday.
Response crews searched more than 5,745 square miles for more than 64 hours for the two missing crewmembers of the 75-foot shrimping vessel.
Coast Guard assets that searched for the missing shrimpers were as follows Coast Guard Cutter Sturgeon crew, Coast Guard Station Venice 45-foot Response Boat – Medium crews, Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crews and Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile, Alabama, HC-144 Ocean Sentry fix-wing aircrews.
“Our hearts go out to the families and friends of the two men who were lost at sea,” said Capt. Phillip Schifflin, commander, Coast Guard Sector New Orleans.
Watch standers with Sector New Orleans command center received notification from an offshore rig reporting a capsized shrimping vessel at 4 p.m., Tuesday. The reporting source stated two people were rescued by the good Samaritan vessel Miss Anna from the keel of the Christopher’s Joy.
Response crews were directed to launch in search of the missing crewmembers immediately after notification.