SAN DIEGO – The Coast Guard suspended the search for a possible vessel that was reported taking on water a mile north of Point Loma, Calif., at 11:46 a.m., Thursday.
Since the initial call, Coast Guard surface and air assets, along with the San Diego Lifeguards, searched more than nine hours, covering 273 nautical miles.
Throughout Wednesday night, the Coast Guard Joint Harbor Operations Center (JHOC) issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast informing mariners of the distress call and asking them to notify the Coast Guard and lend assistance if they encountered the vessel.
Early Thursday morning a Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew conducted searches along the shoreline and off the coast of Point Loma for any indication of a vessel or people in distress.
A local vessel salvage company received the original distress transmission and relayed the information to the JHOC at approximately 5 p.m., Wednesday. No further transmissions were received after the initial call.
Weather conditions offshore were favorable for the crew conducting the search with 20-knot winds, six-foot seas and 10 miles of visibility.
The Coast Guard is asking anyone who heard the Mayday transmission or has knowledge of an overdue vessel to contact the JHOC at (619) 278-7031.
