US Coast Guard joins search for missing fishermen

By Stanford Conway
Editor-in-Chief-SKNVibes.com

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE San Juan-based US Coast Guard has signalled its intention to join in the continued search today for three fishermen who went missing at sea since Wednesday, December 24.

In an exclusive interview, Commanding Officer of the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force Coast Guard, Captain Anthony Comrie told SKNVibes that on request of the Regional Command Centre for Search and Rescue in Martinique, the US Coast Guard has agreed to join in the search with an aircraft for the three fishermen who were reported missing at sea since Christmas Eve Day.

Information reaching this media house states that sometime in the morning of December 24, Richard ‘Elmond’ Hodge of New Road, Joseph ‘Tarzan’ Chamber of Ponds Pasture and a Dominican, whose name was given only as Mr. Julius, left St. Kitts to fish within an area south of Nevis.

According to Captain Comrie, at approximately 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 24, the Coast Guard was informed by Reginald Mills that three men aboard one of his vessels had left St. Kitts between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m. on a fishing trip but did not return to shore.

“A vessel was dispatched about 7:50 p.m. to search for the men, but after some three hours the search party returned to base and noted that due to poor visibility and bad weather condition it was difficult to locate them,” Comrie said.

He said it is very difficult to search for anything on sea at night and, despite being unsuccessful on their initial search, members of the local Coast Guard had set sail at first light on Christmas Day in continuance of their quest.

Comrie declared that when he had contacted the Regional Command Centre for Search and Rescue and apprised them of the situation, they immediately alerted all mariners in the region to be on the lookout for the missing men.

He also said that the Control Tower at the Robert L Bradshaw International Airport has been alerting all incoming flights from Antigua and others south of the Federation to inform them should the vessel be sighted.

Comrie added that the local Coast Guard would be coordinating with the US Coast Guard’s aircraft during today’s search and additional crews are on stand-by for any eventuality.

He pointed out that since William ‘Billy’ Herbert and five others had gone missing in 1994 the Coast Guard has established a logbook in which all outgoing local mariners should record their time of departure, destination and estimated time of return.

Joseph ‘Tarzan’ Chamber ( between two children)

“We have endeavoured to find the missing men and we will use all means necessary. This is a time for giving and the men’s families had expected them to bring and share joy with them in this season. Unfortunately, they went missing at sea. However, we will leave no stone unturned in our continuous search for them,” Captain Comrie said.

According to the Weather Forecast issued by the St. Kitts Meteorological Services at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 24, a small craft warning was in place and mariners were advised to remain in port.

The Weather Bulletin read, “Winds: NE-ENE at 12-18kt increasing to near 25kt over open waters. Higher gusts will develop in showers. Seas: Rough waves 2.4m or 8ft. Seas are building will become dangerously rough over the next 24-48 hours. A small craft warning remains in place and mariners should stay in port and seek safe anchorage.”

This is the second time for the year men had gone fishing and reported missing. On Tuesday, February 19, it was reported that Keita Williams and Kasim ‘Dula’ Maynard went out in a fishing boat, FV LADY SEA, to clear fish traps they had set around the Canoe Bay area when a high wave suddenly hit the boat causing it to capsize. To date, the two men, neither the vessel, have been found.