A frantic search is in full swing off the Texas coast after a Nicaraguan crew member aboard the St. Joseph VII fishing vessel went missing near the Bolivar Peninsula. The search began yesterday morning, with the Coast Guard and multiple local agencies scanning the sea and skies for any sign of the man last spotted in black windbreaker pants and a blue sweater.
The Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston command center was alerted about the missing person at 8:58 a.m., stirring them to quickly issue an urgent marine information broadcast. The directive that followed was to deploy a pair of 45-foot response boat crews from the Coast Guard Station Galveston and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from the Air Station Houston, as reported by the Houston Chronicle.
The notification came from the captain of the St. Joseph VII, saying that the crew member had last been seen at midnight. Efforts to find the man have included several Coast Guard assets and the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office, according to details released by the Coast Guard on their official website.
Community members and fellow mariners are urged to stay alert and report soon as possible any information that might help recover the missing crew member. Calls are to be directed to the Sector Houston-Galveston at 281-464-4851. The Coast Guard also maintains a presence on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, providing updates as the search continues.
