US Coast Guard suspends search for 2 missing sailors near Bahamas

The U.S. Coast Guard has officially called off its search for two missing crew members from the cargo sailboat De Gallant, which is located about 20 miles north of Great Inagua, Bahamas.

Following the ship's distress signal, an intensive rescue operation lasted 44 hours and covered more than 3,700 square miles.

The search began early Tuesday morning after Coast Guard Atlantic Area Surveillance officers received distress signals from the Vanuatu-flagged 90-foot schooner De Gallant.

Distress signals from personal locator beacons in the area prompted the Coast Guard's Seventh District Command Center to initiate a rescue operation with air and sea capabilities.

Around 8 a.m., an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater on forward deployment to Great Inagua discovered two life rafts with six Frenchmen in a field of wrecks.

The six survivors, who said the De Gallant capsized and began taking on water during a sudden, intense storm, were hoisted to safety and airlifted to Coast Guard Air Station Miami in Opa Locka, Florida.

They would be in good health.

Despite the successful rescue of six crew members, two women remain missing.

The search for the missing women began with the support of the Royal Bahamas Defense Force, but the Coast Guard made the difficult choice to call off the search Wednesday evening.

Cmdr. Lindsey Seniuk, search and rescue mission coordinator for the Coast Guard's Seventh District Command Center, expressed sympathy.

Suspending this case is one of the most difficult decisions the team has made.

He added that they were all grateful to the Royal Bahamas Defense Force for helping to bring home the six survivors.

The De Gallant, a 90-foot schooner built in the Netherlands in 1916 and operated by the French Blue Schooner Company, offers environmentally friendly cargo voyages between Europe and the Caribbean Sea.

The tragedy is a reminder of the dangers sailors face.

The Blue Schooner Company acknowledged the loss, adding that this incident, which resulted in the loss of a battle-tested vessel manned by experienced professional sailors, is a reminder of the dangers of navigation and the maritime profession.

Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and loved ones.

As the search concludes, the maritime community mourns the loss and expresses gratitude for the lives saved during the tragedy.

Reference: USCG