Wednesday, August 26, 2015

a 40-foot fishing trawler called "El Jefe" sunk in Sandy Hook, NJ

Divers to continue searching Sandy Hook Channel after boat capsizes

Dray Clark reporting live
State police, the Coast Guard and police department divers are among those searching for a vessel that may have capsized in the Sandy Hook Channel.

The search began Tuesday after reports were received of a boat in distress around 4:30 p.m. It ended about five hours later and is to resume on Wednesday.

The Coast Guard reports that the vessel could be a 40-foot fishing trawler called "El Jefe."

The New Jersey State Police Marine Unit and a dive team from the New York Police Department are assisting with the search.

The Coast Guard continues to search the water with sonar.

It's not clear if anyone was on board the boat when it when down. No one has been reported missing as of late Tuesday night.

The USGS said the crew on another boat reported a boat going under at about 4:30 p.m. The boat was positioned somewhere near Sandy Hook Bay near buoy 14.


The captain of the Dorothy B said he witnessed a 40-foot commercial fishing boat go down into the water.

Video from Newscopter 7 shows a life ring and two coolers floating in the water where the boat apparently went under.

Those involved in search efforts include NYPD Aviation, NJSP Aviation, U.S. Coast Guard and the NJSP Marine Bureau.

The "El Jefe" is normally docked in Belford.