Coast Guard suspends search for owner of empty boat found near Bainbridge

Published 12:01 am Wednesday, October 28, 2015

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND — The Coast Guard suspended its search Tuesday for a 54-year-old man whose empty boat was found adrift near Bainbridge Island on Monday.

After more than 29 hours of searching, the Coast Guard suspended operations at 1:43 p.m. Tuesday, said the duty public affairs specialist, Petty Officer George Winger.

The search in Rich Passage for the Bainbridge Island man, who was not identified, began at about 6:30 p.m. Monday after a Coast Guard vessel found multiple indications the 15-foot boat was being used, including a fishing pole and an open tackle box.

Truck, trailer at boat tramp

His wife confirmed that the man’s truck and trailer were still at the Port Orchard Marina boat ramp.

A MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station Port Angeles and the Coast Guard cutter Wahoo, an 87-foot Coast Patrol Boat based in Port Angeles, were involved in the search, along with a response boat from Station Seattle.

Coast Guard officials said the man was not wearing a life jacket.

“The decision to suspend a search is never an easy one to make and is done with great care and deliberation,” said Lt. Cmdr. Darkeim Brown, search-and-rescue mission controller at Sector Puget Sound.

“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the missing man.”