Overview
- At a Gloucester briefing, Gov. Maura Healey and State Sen. Bruce Tarr said the effort has shifted to a new phase focused on locating the vessel and answering families’ questions.
- Authorities described challenging conditions at the site, with water depths of roughly 315 to 400 feet and frigid temperatures complicating recovery.
- NOAA’s survey ship Thomas Jefferson is mapping the seabed in the area of the distress beacon and sharing data with the Coast Guard.
- Massachusetts Environmental Police are employing side-scan technology to aid the seabed search as multiple state and federal investigations continue.
- The 72-foot vessel sank Jan. 30 about 20–25 miles off Cape Ann; an EPIRB activated at 6:50 a.m., a debris field and empty life raft were found, one body was recovered, six remain missing and presumed dead, and the cause is still undetermined as the Coast Guard and NTSB conduct a formal marine casualty investigation.