U.S. Coast Guard Suspends Search For 2 Missing Mariners Near Bahamas

The United States Coast Guard officially called off its search for two missing crew members from the sailing cargo vessel De Gallant, which is about 20 miles north of Great Inagua, Bahamas.

Following the vessel’s distress signal, an intensive rescue operation lasted 44 hours and covered more than 3,700 square miles.

The search began early Tuesday morning after Coast Guard Atlantic Area watchstanders received distress signals from the 90-foot Vanuatu-flagged schooner De Gallant.

Distress signals from personal locator beacons in the area prompted the Coast Guard Seventh District command centre to start a rescue operation with air and maritime capabilities.

Around 8 a.m., a Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew on forward deployment to Great Inagua discovered two life rafts with six French people in a wreckage field.

The six survivors, who claimed that the De Gallant had capsized and begun to take on water during a sudden and intense storm, were hoisted to safety and flown to Coast Guard Air Station Miami in Opa Locka, Florida.

They were reported to be in good health.

Despite the successful rescue of six crew members, two female crew members are still missing.

The search for the missing women began with the support of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, but the Coast Guard made the difficult choice to call off the search on Wednesday evening.

Cmdr. Lindsey Seniuk, Coast Guard Seventh District command centre search and rescue mission coordinator, expressed sympathy.

Suspending this case is one of the most difficult decisions that the team has made.

He added that they are all grateful to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force for helping bring home the six survivors.

The De Gallant, a 90-foot schooner built in the Netherlands in 1916 and operated by the France-based Blue Schooner Company, offers environmentally friendly freight travel between Europe and the Caribbean Sea.

The tragedy serves as a reminder of the dangers seamen encounter.

The Blue Schooner Company acknowledged the loss, adding that this incident, which resulted in the loss of a well-proven vessel manned by experienced professional sailors, serves as a reminder of the dangers of navigation and the maritime profession.

Our hearts and prayers go out to their families and loved ones.

As the search concludes, the maritime community mourns the loss and expresses gratitude for the lives saved during the tragedy.

Reference: USCG

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