NEW BEDFORD, MA (WBZ-AM) – The U.S. Coast Guard has called off a search for a missing boat that may have been in distress Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound.
The search was initiated Wednesday night and continued into Thursday when a mayday call was heard over the radio. The voice was low and faint --- but it came in a couple of times the first at 8:31 p.m. another at 8:53 p.m. Wednesday.
Coast Guard Petty Officer Andrew Barresi tells WBZ NewsRadio1030 that the search was suspended at 1PM.
No debris field was found, no missing person or overdue boaters were reported. He says that 767 Square nautical miles were searched.
He can't say if the mayday call was a hoax and said that they treat all mayday calls as if they are sincere.
"We treat any mayday call like this as if is it is a sincere cry for help we're always going to do that we're always going to commit to help folks that's our mission," Barresi said.
To listen to the mayday call [click here]
The exact location, what caused the distress, and how many people are on board remain a mystery.
A fixed wing aircraft joined two coast guard cutters at daybreak.
The National Weather Service has issued a small craft advisory in effect until 6 p.m. Thursday evening.
There are currently 4 to 7 foot seas.
WBZ NewsRadio1030’s Ben Parker Reports.