SEATTLE — The Coast Guard suspended the active search for a missing cruise ship passenger northwest of Protection Island in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, at 6:10 p.m., Monday
“We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to those affected, however, despite our best efforts we have been unable to locate the missing passenger,” said Eric Cookson, a command duty officer at Sector Puget Sound.
An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station Port Angeles, two 87-foot patrol boat crews, the Coast Guard Cutter Blueshark homeported in Everett and the Coast Guard Cutter Wahoo homeported in Port Angeles, and two 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crews, one from Station Port Angeles and one from Station Seattle, searched over 230 miles and for more than six hours.
The Coast Guard suspends a search and rescue case with great care and deliberation. After a probable search area is saturated with maximum number of assets and crew effort, and the person is not located, the decision is made to suspend an active search.
The Coast Guard can resume an active search if credible information is received regarding the missing person’s whereabouts.
Click here for the initial news release.