The USCGC Myrtle Hazard is among the assets searching for the Lucky Harvest, which went missing after departing Alamagan on May 12 en route to Saipan.
USCG photo
THE U.S. Coast Guard, in collaboration with the U.S. Navy and the CNMI Department of Public Safety’s Boating Safety Unit, continued its search on Wednesday for the 47-foot vessel Lucky Harvest, which went missing after departing Alamagan on May 12 en route to Saipan. Lucky Harvest was occupied by two mariners.
U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam Public Affairs Officer Sarah Muir told Variety on Wednesday afternoon that they would reassess the results of the current search patterns and determine the next steps.
“I will let you know if there are any significant developments. Barring anything major, I anticipate the next full update tomorrow [Thursday] at mid-morning,” Muir added.
According to DPS, Lucky Harvest is a CNMI registered vessel and is owned by Cecilio Raiukiulipiy.
Assistant Chief of Police Simon Manacop said: “The vessel is registered in the CNMI, and the two mariners are Filipino.”
Asked what the vessel was doing at Alamagan before it went missing, Manacop said, “They had escorted Fish and Wildlife personnel to conduct a survey at Alamagan. The only cargo was equipment for Fish and Wildlife — no cargo was loaded from Alamagan.”
According to USCG, the Lucky Harvest is equipped with a VHF radio, orange life jackets, flares, an emergency beacon, fuel, and provisions.
Around midday on May 13, Saipan Boating Safety officials notified the U.S. Coast Guard Joint Rescue Sub-Center watchstanders of the potentially overdue vessel.
The Coast Guard then diverted the USCGC Myrtle Hazard, already patrolling nearby, to a location 38 miles northwest of Rota, believed to be the vessel’s last known position.
A U.S. Navy MH-60 Knighthawk helicopter from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 joined the search at 3 p.m.
The Coast Guard also alerted nearby mariners through an urgent marine information broadcast and SafetyNet and attempted to contact the vessel’s crew by cellphone and radio. But the calls went to voicemail and earlier radio contact provided an unclear location.
“Given the intermittent communications, we’re exercising caution and searching in an effort to verify the crew’s safety,” said USCG Cmdr. Patton Epperson, the search and rescue mission coordinator. “The Lucky Harvest is reportedly well-prepared, and we’re grateful for the swift support from our partners in this search.”
On Wednesday the search was focused west of Saipan.
Additional support included a sister vessel to the Lucky Harvest and a DPS boat crew, both searching west of Saipan, the Coast Guard stated.
A self-locating datum marker buoy was deployed to track ocean currents, and urgent marine information broadcasts and SafetyNet alerts remain active to notify nearby mariners, the Coast Guard added.
