UPDATE: Cheeki Rafiki Search Faces Suspension

Capt. Anthony Popiel, the Chief of Response for the 1st U.S. Coast Guard District, responsible for coordinating the overall search efforts for the crew of the Cheeki Rafiki said yesterday that the search will continue today as well.

Nevertheless, as explained by Capt Popiel, “if, by midnight (May 23), there are no further developments to indicate search efforts would locate the crew alive, we will suspend the search. Our focus right now, however, remains with this very active and very dynamic search. “

So far, the search party had no significant sightings and it has been concluded that none of the debris or objects located during the search correlate to the Cheeki Rafiki.

The search efforts included participation from air crews from the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Air Force, Canadian military, and Royal Air Force who worked with commercial vessels in the area to continue the extensive search.

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous arrived on scene last night and a U.S. Navy warship has commenced searches with their embarked helicopter. In total, efforts since resuming the search have covered more than 17,540 square miles of ocean, according to USCG.

” I’m very appreciative of the help we continue to receive from the Canadian and British government as well as our fellow U.S. military branches. We’ve informed the British consulate of these plans and appreciate the support we’ve received with this decision.

With sincere compassion for the families of these four men, our thoughts and prayers are with them all during this difficult time,” Capt. Popiel concluded.

[mappress]
Press Release, May 23, 2014; Image: USCG