Coast Guard suspends search for overdue mariners off guam

SANTA RITA, GUAM

07.27.2021

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew West 

U.S. Coast Guard District 14 Hawaii Pacific

SANTA RITA, Guam — On Tuesday, the Coast Guard suspended the active search for Xiao Wei Quin and Yun Liu Red, who remain missing.

The search began last Wednesday, when their 14-foot black Kodiak skiff was reported overdue while traveling between Saipan and Guam.

At 4:16 p.m., Wednesday, July 21, Sector Guam watchstanders received a report from Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands’ Department of Public Safety notifying them that the spouse of one of the individuals had called concerned for the mariners’ wellbeing.

The spouse reported that they left Saipan for Guam on July 18, and the last text she received from her husband stated he could see Guam.

Sector Guam watchstanders issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast and deployed assets to search the area, while also coordinating with local and federal partners, including land searches on Guam.

“Since the case began, we worked closely with our local, regional, and federal partners covering over 14,000 square nautical miles during 111 search hours with no sign of Mr. Wei Quin and Mr. Liu Red,” said Capt. Nicholas Simmons, Commander of Coast Guard Sector Guam. “Making this decision is never easy, but we have suspended the active search pending development of further information.”

Assets and personnel involved in the search efforts included:

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Oliver Henry (WPC 1140)
Coast Guard Station Apra Harbor 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crews
A Navy Mark VI Patrol Boat and crew
Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 H-60 helicopters and aircrews
Navy P-8 Poseidon aircrews
A Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point HC-130 Hercules aircrew
Air Force Security Forces
Guam Police Department ground crews
Guam Fire Department ground crews
Joint Rescue Sub Center Guam watchstanders
Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu watchstanders

• Date Taken: 07.27.2021
• Date Posted: 07.28.2021 01:36
• Story ID: 401874
• Location: SANTA RITA, GU