SEATTLE — Coast Guard crews are searching for an overdue crabber last seen near Anacortes, Tuesday morning.
Missing is Dean Harvey, 48, of Bremerton.
A 45-foot Response Boat — Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Bellingham and the crew of Coast Guard Cutter Adelie, an 87-foot patrol boat homeported in Port Angeles, are involved in the search.
An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles also completed a search of the area before returning to land due to deteriorating weather conditions. The aircrew will continue to monitor the situation to determine when it is safe to rejoin the search.
Robert Romero, Harvey’s brother, reported that they both left Anacortes around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday on separate, 18-foot fishing vessels to go crabbing and agreed to return to Anacortes at 3:30 p.m.
Romero returned to Anacortes at 3:30 p.m. and waited for his brother to return until 4:30 p.m., when he called Skagit County 911 operators to report him overdue.
"We encourage all boaters to file a float plan with a friend or relative to let them know where they will be and when they expect to return," said Lt. Raphael Sadowitz, command duty officer at Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound. "The sooner we are notified of an overdue mariner, the sooner we can begin our search and send help."
On scene weather is reported to be heavy rain, 200 yards of visibility, 1 to 2 foot seas and 12 to 17 mph winds.
Anyone with information about Harvey’s whereabouts is asked to contact Sector Puget Sound at 206-217-6001.