The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended the search for the missing crew member aboard a fishing boat with ties to Gig Harbor that sunk off the coast of Alaska on Friday.
A public radio station in Kodiak, Alaska, reported that one of three crew members of the 58-foot Advantage rescued by the Coast Guard later died.
The Advantage is owned by Advantage Fisheries LLC, based in Gig Harbor, according to online information, but it sails out of Kodiak. The boat’s owner lives in Gig Harbor but was not aboard when the boat sunk, said Gregg Lovrovich, owner of the Gig Harbor-based Sea Fury.
The Coast Guard dispatched a helicopter after receiving word of a distress call shortly after midnight Friday. Rescuers hoisted three crew members from a life raft and were told a fourth crew member was missing.
Air crews took turns searching an area encompassing about 1,400 square miles but called off the search after more than 18 hours, according to a press release. The Coast Guard is investigating why the fishing boat sunk. It reported conditions were calm when the Advantage went down.
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