Update: Coast Guard suspends active search for 3 fishermen off Oahu

Courtesy Photo | The Coast Guard and the Navy are searching for three missing fishermen reported overdue north northwest of Oahu, July 4, 2016. Their 20-foot fishing vessel Iwa, was spotted overturned by the Coast Guard approximately 25 miles off of Haleiwa Boat Harbor. (U.S. Coast Guard photo/Released)  

HONOLULU, HI, UNITED STATES

07.07.2016

Story by Chief Petty Officer Sara Muir                  

U.S. Coast Guard District 14 Hawaii Pacific

HONOLULU — The Coast Guard suspended the search at sunset Thursday for 3 fishermen who went missing when their vessel capsized off the North Shore of Oahu, Sunday.

Jensen Loo, Clint Oshima and Derek Tomas remain missing.

"To suspend an active search and rescue case without definitive resolution is one of the most difficult decisions to make," said Capt. Michael Long, commander, Coast Guard Sector Honolulu. "We saturated the area in an attempt to locate these men with Coast Guard and partner agency crews, but pending further developments, we are suspending the active search. Our condolences and thoughts are with their friends and loved ones. A special thanks to our Department of Defense and local agency partners for their assistance in this case."

On-scene assets searched a total area of more than 27,600 square miles and deployed five self-locating datum marker buoys over four days. The search area began off the North Shore, but extended as far west as Kauai and north up to nearly 100 miles offshore, based on drift models.

Involved in the search were:
- HC-130 Hercules airplane and MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crews from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point
- Crews of USCGC Kiska (WPB-1336) from Hilo and USCGC Ahi (WPB-87364) from Honolulu
- Response boat crews from Coast Guard Station Honolulu and Station Kauai
- Navy P-3 airplane crews, a Navy SH-60 helicopter crew and Marine Corps UH-1Y helicopter crews from Kaneohe Bay
- Hawaii County Fire Department jet ski and helicopter crews

The Iwa was spotted overturned by the Coast Guard approximately 25 miles off of Haleiwa Boat Harbor during Monday's search. They were originally reported overdue from a fishing trip by a family member late Sunday.

An Urgent Marine Information Broadcast was issued alerting mariners in the area to keep a sharp lookout and report any sightings to the Coast Guard Sector Honolulu Command Center and crews were dispatched Sunday night to begin the search.

No new imagery is available for this case. The previous releases, including the rescue of the fishermens' friends who attempted to tow their capsized boat to port, can be seen at: www.uscgnews.com click on 14th District Hawaii & the Pacific or on our DVIDS page at: https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/USCGD14

• Date Taken: 07.07.2016
• Date Posted: 07.08.2016 02:14
• Story ID: 203375
• Location: HONOLULU, HI, US