The U.S. Coast Guard on Tuesday night called off a search for a 56-year-old man who fell overboard from a 47-foot commercial fishing vessel near Deal Island on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
At around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, watchstanders from Coast Guard Sector Maryland-National Capital Region were notified that a mariner had fallen overboard two miles west of the island, the agency said in a news release. The man was last seen wearing blue and orange waders and gray boots.
The Coast Guard dispatched a 29-foot response boat crew from Station Crisfield, and a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station Atlantic City, according to the news release.
Crews searched over 70 square nautical miles over nearly 12 hours, but came across no signs of the man.
“Our hearts are with the missing mariner’s family and friends,” said Cmdr. Roberto Concepcion, chief of response for the Coast Guard’s regional sector. “Our crews worked closely with our local and state partners throughout the day but there has been no sign of him and the case has been suspended pending further information.”
The Somerset County Fire Department, the Maryland National Resources Police and the Maryland State Police all assisted in the search.
Deal Island is located 35 miles southwest of Salisbury.
The agency urged waterway users to report any information to the Coast Guard command center at 410-576-2525.
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