Coast Guard search underway for overdue vessel reportedly fishing near the Waianae Coast

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Coast Guard is searching for an overdue vessel with one person aboard west of Oahu on Thursday.

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Missing is a 61-year-old man who departed on a fishing trip at 5 a.m. Wednesday. He was reportedly fishing near the Waianae coast off the southwest side of Oahu around noon.

The 19-foot recreational fishing vessel has a white hull, pink trim, and twin outboard engines.

Coast Guard Sector Honolulu command center watchstanders received notification at 2:15 p.m. Thursday from the harbormaster of Waianae Small Boat Harbor that the man’s truck and trailer were still at the boat ramp.

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Watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and coordinated the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point HC-130 Hercules airplane crew and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew, as well as a Coast Guard Station Honolulu 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew. The crew of fast response cutter USCGC Joseph Gerczak (WPC 1126) is slated to join the search Friday.

On-scene weather conditions are 9-foot seas and winds of 35 mph and gusts exceeding 50 mph. Out of concern for public safety, the Coast Guard advises boaters to exercise extreme caution and avoid venturing offshore while conditions are hazardous.

Anyone with information that may assist in search efforts should contact the Coast Guard on VHF-FM channel 16 or call the Sector Honolulu command center at 1-800-552-6458.

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Involved in the search are: