MIAMI — The U.S. Coast Guard is no longer searching for the reportedly nine fishermen aboard the fishing vessel Aisha who were missing after their vessel became disabled and started drifting in the vicinity of Labadee, Haiti, Friday.
Coast Guard Seventh District command center received notification that a Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew assisting in the search, found the missing vessel already being assisted by a good Samaritan vessel in the vicinity of Canal de Tortue, Haiti, Saturday afternoon.
There were five Haitian fisherman aboard the Aisha rather than nine as initially reported. It was confirmed that all the passengers were safe, accounted for and in no immediate distress.
The vessel Aisha and crew are being towed back to Haiti by the motor vessel Irena Express.
Coast Guard reminds everyone that while many boaters rely on cell phones for emergency communications on the water, VHF-FM radios are much more reliable in the marine environment and work in areas where cell phones sometimes don’t. When a mayday is broadcast over channel FM Channel 16, the international hailing and distress frequency, multiple response agencies and other nearby boaters can hear the distress call and offer immediate assistance.
For more information about safe boating go to: http://www.safeboatingcampaign.com/