U.S. Coast Guard and partners search for missing fishing vessel crew member more than 1,200 miles off Hawaii

HONOLULU — The U.S. Coast Guard and partner agencies are searching Monday for a fishing vessel crewman reported overboard more than 1,200 miles offshore Hawaii.

The missing crew member is a 59-year-old man, approximately 5 feet, 7 inches tall, last seen wearing light-colored pants and a dark short-sleeved shirt.

Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu watchstanders were notified at 5 p.m. Sunday by the Korea Mission Coordination Center that a crewman from the Republic of Korea-flagged fishing vessel Oryong 355 went overboard at 12:15 p.m. Sunday, about 1,200 miles southeast of the Big Island.

In response, watchstanders issued a SafetyNET broadcast to vessels near the Oryong 355 and coordinated the launch of a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon crew from Navy Command Task Force-32 at Marine Corps Base Hawaii to conduct aerial searches. The crew of the Maersk Yellowstone, a Singapore-flagged cargo ship, diverted to assist.

Anyone with information that could aid the search is asked to contact the Coast Guard on VHF-FM channel 16 or call the Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu at 1-800-331-6176.