WOODS HOLE — The Coast Guard and Massachusetts Environmental Police are investigating the sinking of the scalloper Yankee Rose on Thursday. One crewman died and the search for the second was suspended Friday afternoon.
The fishing vessel Yankee Rose, based in New Bedford, overturned just before noon Thursday with two crew aboard about 3 miles from Race Point in Provincetown. Notified by Good Samaritans, Coast Guard crews arrived on the scene along with local agencies minutes later.
One crewman was found unresponsive around 12:27 p.m. Thursday by Massachusetts Environmental Police, and died shortly after, according to media reports. He was identified by family as Angel Luis Nieves of New Bedford.
The search for the second crewman went on for 21 hours, during which the the Yankee Rose sank at approximately 3:48 p.m. Thursday, leaving a debris field. The search was suspended Friday at 1:27 p.m. by the Coast Guard.
“Despite adverse weather and sea conditions, including freezing temperatures, an active small craft advisory and a gale warning, all available resources were leveraged in the effort to locate the missing mariner,” the Coast Guard said Friday evening in a statement.
The missing man has not been identified by authorities.
“The local fishing community was instrumental throughout the search and rescue process, reporting the initial incident, conducting searches and providing critical information,” the Coast Guard said.
“We appreciate the outpouring of support from state and local partner agencies as well as the fishing community, especially during the early efforts of this response,” said Cmdr. Thomas Wieland, the search and rescue mission coordinator from Sector Southeastern New England. “The decision to suspend a search is never taken lightly, and we offer our most sincere condolences to the families of the lost fisherman.”
The sinking of the Yankee Rose comes a month after the Gloucester-based fishing vessel Lily Jean went down with all seven hands on its return to port in Gloucester. Only the captain’s body was recovered.
The Coast Guard investigates marine casualties and accidents to uncover their causes and initiate necessary corrective actions.