A Tow Boat U.S. Captain, whose home port was in Marion, was found dead inside the cabin of his 29-foot boat around 8:30 am this morning, ending a search that had been ongoing all morning, Coast Guard officials say.
“Ending a search like this is a hard outcome to accept,” said Lt. Brian Hall, the command duty officer at Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England. “Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”
The search began around 1:00 am after the Coast Guard received a distress call at its Sector Southeastern New England command center from the Triple J’s captain, who reported that his vessel was taking on water.
The Coast Guard teamed up with the Bourne Police Department, and Harbormasters from Marion and Wareham in the search.
A 25-foot Response Boat from Coast Guard Station Cape Cod Canal, a 41-foot Utility Boat from Coast Guard Station Woods Hole and the Coast Guard Cutter Tigershark were immediately launched to search for the captain.
The Wareham Harbormaster found the Triple J unmanned and partially submerged around 6:00 am approximately three miles south of Hog Island Channel in Buzzards Bay.
Officials have not released the name of the captain
“Sadly, accidents like these are a very real danger of working on the water,” said Lt. Daniel Tanksley, a Command Duty Officer at the 1st Coast Guard District Command Center. “In the wake of tragedies like this, we urge mariners to recognize these dangers, operate safely, and be prepared for the worst.”