Search for missing boat is called off
INVESTIGATIONS are continuing after the mysterious disappearance of a vessel, but the search has now been ended.
The boat was reported leaving Jersey for Guernsey on Wednesday night and then an emergency call was received, but nothing has been found.
A statement from Ports of Jersey confirmed that while the search had ended, the incident remained open, pending further information.
A spokesman said that they wanted to speak to anyone who had information about a vessel called either Delta Buoy or Delta Boy.
At about 11pm on Wednesday the Jersey Coastguard was notified that a boat was planning to travel between Jersey and Guernsey that evening, and was expecting to arrive into Guernsey at around 12.30am.
Although further clarifications were sought, no other information was provided.
At around 4am yesterday the Guernsey Coastguard received a spoken word Pan-Pan call, this call was responded to but no further information was received.
Pan-Pan is the international standard urgency signal that someone aboard a vessel uses to declare that they have a situation that is urgent, but, for the time being, does not pose an immediate danger to anyone’s life or to the vessel itself.
Following discussion between Jersey and Guernsey Coastguard, Channel Islands Air Search took off from Guernsey to search the area between the islands.
Channel Islands Air Search chief executive John Fitzgerald said two sets of crew – 10 volunteers in total – had been up yesterday searching the area.
He said they understood they were looking for a yacht.
However, apart from a few planks of wood, nothing unusual was spotted.
Air Search 1 searched between Jersey and Guernsey, as well as along the south and east coast of Jersey. The search areas were determined using information based on the received traffic report and utilised search and rescue planning software taking into consideration wind and tidal modelling.
Prevailing weather conditions during the search were poor, with rough sea conditions and winds between 30 and 55 knots.
A range of enquiries have been undertaken yesterday, including broadcast action, information searches, checks of St Aubin and St Peter Port Harbours, as well as along Jersey’s west coast. No further information relating to the boat has been received during this time.
Survivability criteria has been taken into consideration, including the current sea temperature and prevailing weather conditions.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Jersey Coastguard on 01534 447705.
