Update on Lake Huron search for missing boaters

NEWS RELEASE

U.S. COAST GUARD

******************** Coast Guard searches for possible people in water

ST. IGNACE, Mich. - U. S. Coast Guard and Canadian Search and Rescue resources are currently searching for two Detroit, MI residents who were believed to be onboard a reported overdue vessel that was located approximately two miles south of Marquette Island, MI and two miles east of Goose Island, MI in northern Lake Huron.

U. S. Coast Guard Station St. Ignace received a report of an overdue vessel at 9:10 a.m., 12 August 2005.

The vessel was described as a 27-foot cabin cruiser, with a white-on-white hull.

The vessel was transiting from near Rogers City, MI enroute Mackinac Island, MI.

The U. S. Coast Guard spoke with the cousin of one of the missing individuals who stated that he had spoken to his cousin, by cell phone, around 1:30 p.m., on 11 August 2005.

The cousin onboard the overdue vessel reported being near Rogers City, MI and would be in Mackinac Island in approximately two hours.

After receiving the report, U. S. Coast Guard Station St. Ignace made attempts to contact the vessel via marine radio and cell phone, without any success.

U.S. Coast Guard Station St. Ignace then notified the necessary agencies that could assist in contacting or locating the vessel.

After not being able to locate the vessel by making phone calls to the Rogers City Marina, Mackinac Island, Cheboygan Count Marina and Bois Blanc Island Marina, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Sault Ste. Marie issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast (UMIB) to continue efforts towards locating the vessel.

A UMIB is a marine broadcast utilized by the Coast Guard to pass along a distressed vessels location, description, and nature of distress to mariners who may be in the vicinity and able to render assistance.

At 10:10 a.m., 12 August 2005, Sector Sault Ste. Marie received a report of a vessel matching the description of the overdue vessel from a vessel near Bois Blanc Island, MI. U. S. Coast Guard Station St. Ignace’s 47-foot motor-lifeboat was launched to search the reported vessels location, shortly after being informed by its SAR Mission Coordinator (SMC), U. S. Coast Guard Sector Sault Ste. Marie.

The vessel was located at approximately 11:10 a.m., with the engine running in neutral and no persons onboard.

The search then shifted from an overdue vessel to two possible persons in the water (PIW).

Various agencies have joined in the search to locate the two PIWs.

Searches have been conducted by small boat, helicopter, fixed-wing aircraft, as well as by land.

Cheboygan County and Mackinac County Sheriff's Department are a few of the agencies that have joined in the shoreline search from Cheboygan to Mackinaw City.

A U.S. Coast Guard 47-foot motor-life boat from St. Ignace, MI, and the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Biscayne Bay are the resources tasked with searching the water.

A Canadian C-130 was involved in the search efforts earlier this morning, but was diverted and later replaced by another Canadian C-130.

A U. S. Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City HH-65 helicopter and a helicopter from Muskegon will work with the Canadian C-130 to continue searching from the air.

U. S. Coast Guard and Canadian agencies will continue the search until the PIW have been located.

A C-130, HH-65, CGC Biscayne Bay, 47-foot MLB, and Coast Guard Auxiliary will continue.

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