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The father of a fisherman who disappeared at sea asked the South Labrador and North Newfoundland boats to join his son and a second team member in the search.
Two people on board Island girl It was expected to land in Marys Harbor at 5:00 pm on Friday.
At 6:30 that night, Dwight Russell checked his son Mark’s Facebook Messenger account to see if he was active and online.
“I usually check that account every day to make sure it’s home,” he said. “I started to worry because I called home and he didn’t come to send the fish. It was then that I had the instinct that something was happening ”.
Russell himself was out of the water. His boat got into trouble and he was towed in a boat, but he contacted some friends who left immediately to begin the search on their own boats before dark.
“They searched all night,” Russell said. “Some of them left yesterday and have not returned yet.”
The Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC) and several Canadian Coast Guard helicopters and boats are searching for the couple.
460 square nautical miles were logged
According to the JRCC, at 6 p.m. NT on Saturday, the search covered 460 square nautical miles, with high-probability areas being logged multiple times.
It is planned to expand the search area overnight and continue the effort until Sunday.
Russell said he alerted the Coast Guard when he called his friends to begin the search.
According to the Lieutenant-CMDR Public Affairs Officer. Brian Owens, JRCC First Learned Island girl The Marine Rescue Substation at St. John’s, a JRCC substation, listened to radio traffic from the local fishing crew.
From there, a Hercules plane and a Garmont helicopter were quickly dispatched from 14th Wing Greenwood and 9th Wing Ganther in Nova Scotia. Two Coast Guard vessels were dispatched to the area and an emergency broadcast was made on the Labrador Coast Guard radio.
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Owens confirmed that the search was broadened Saturday morning and added more evidence to the effort, including an industrial freezer trawler. Northern Aspire III, Coast Guard Ice Capitán Molly Cool, 5 A Griffon helicopter from Wing Goose Bay, a PAL Airlines flight, and another plane from Nova Scotia equipped with thermal signature equipment.
Local fishermen continue to help with the effort.
“Currently, the weather is not favorable for the eyes,” said Owens.
The height of the waves has been reduced from four to three meters, but the fog and the low ceiling of clouds present challenges, he said.
“We need to be more vigilant as we fly through the area and search the water,” Owens said.
“But this team are professionals, they are used to these conditions and they are trained at many levels like this. Therefore, we must take our time to create an image and follow known search techniques. Find these people. “
The weather is expected to improve on Sunday
Russell and JRCC expect the weather to improve on Sunday.
“We can do a lot more,” Russell said. “Wherever North Newfoundland or South Labrador is, I want to communicate with all my friends. If there is any way to help or assist him in the search, I think tomorrow will be an important day, if Mark and his friend are missing tonight. “
Through emergency services, Mark called the local fish farm at 4:14 pm on Friday, using his satellite phone. According to Russell, the connection was so distorted that the person at the fish plant couldn’t understand who was calling or what they were talking about.
Three minutes later they made another call, from which Russell said they were able to determine the position of the crew beyond the battle port.
According to JRCC, The Island girl An open-hulled fishing boat in the style of the Cape Islands. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police say the ship was equipped with a VHF radio and two external engines.
Owens says the aircraft involved in the search will rotate in and out of fuel and the crew rest, but the JRCC will try to maintain a stable presence, trying to find the vessel by searching in different ways.
When asked about the number of sources linked to the search Island girl And the team, Owen said, “In this case, some determining factors [are] Location, it’s time to announce late and also now the weather conditions.
“When we have the resources and the regulators at the center determine that more assets are needed, we will provide the appropriate amount of support for this,” he said.
The missing fishermen belong to a community on the southern coast of Labrador.
Owens confirmed that there were two reports of burns during the night. He said those two incidents were investigated and nothing was found. He said flames were shot from boats or search planes to illuminate an area.
The ship left Maris Harbor at 6:00 am on Friday. The RCMP says they were informed of the situation around 9:30 p.m.
Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador
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