The following is text of a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard:
(CAPE HATTERAS, N.C.) — The Coast Guard and good Samaritans suspended their search for a missing tanker crewmember who went overboard 400 miles east of Cape Hatteras, N.C., on Friday afternoon.
Coast Guard air crews aboard HC-130 Hercules aircraft flew 22 sorties for a period of 45 combined hours over a search area of approximately 4,000 square miles.
Watch standers at the Coast Guard’s 5th District command center received an initial report from watch standers at the Coast Guard's 1st District Command Center on Wednesday that a man overboard had been reported aboard the tanker ship Hellas Gladiator.
An Air Station Elizabeth City HC-130 Hercules aircraft was launched to search for the missing crewmember, along with two good Samaritan vessels which were notified via Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue (AMVER) messages.
"We would like to extend our condolences to the family of this individual, and thank the vessel Hellas Gladiator and our maritime partners enrolled in the AMVER program for providing a continuous search effort throughout this case," said Lt. j.g. Victoria Moon, Operations Unit Controller at the Coast Guard’s 5th District command center. "By volunteering to participate in the AMVER program our professional mariners ensure that an effective, and rapid response is conducted."
