The commercial fishing vessel Yankee Rose overturned and sank about three nautical miles northeast of Race Point off Provincetown, Massachusetts, on Thursday, the U.S. Coast Guard said, leaving one crew member recovered and transported for medical care and a second crew member still missing.
Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England received notification of the capsizing just before noon, said Coast Guard spokesperson Keira Shantry. Coast Guard crews and local agencies arrived on the scene minutes later. The recovered crew member was “transported to higher medical care,” Shantry said. Neither the names of the two crew members nor updates on their condition were released.
The accident is the second major commercial fishing disaster in Massachusetts waters in five weeks. The 72-foot Lily Jean sank off Gloucester on Jan. 30, killing all seven crew members aboard. The Lily Jean had been returning to port to repair fishing gear when it went down in frigid Atlantic waters.
“I’m heartbroken by the news that the fishing vessel Yankee Rose was found capsized, and my prayers are with the loved ones of the crew, first responders and our entire fishing community during this incredibly difficult time,” Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement.
“This is another devastating reminder of the dangers that come with life at sea and another tragedy for Massachusetts’ fishing industry and the families who make their living on the water, especially so soon after the loss of the Lily Jean in Gloucester,” she added.
Provincetown Town Manager Alex Morse wrote on Facebook that he was “deeply saddened” by the sinking. “Provincetown has a long and proud maritime history, and fishing has always been a central part of our community’s identity,” he wrote. “The fishing community is a close-knit one, where the dangers of the sea are well understood and deeply respected. We know the loss of these fellow fishermen will no doubt be deeply felt by many here who share that bond.”
Prior incident aboard the Yankee Rose
The Yankee Rose had been the site of an emergency response on Feb. 26, when police and firefighters responded to a report of an unresponsive person on board, the Provincetown Police Department said in a statement. Responders found two people passed out due to what appeared to be carbon monoxide exposure, according to Boston radio station WBUR. The two crew members and six others — five emergency responders and a harbormaster — were sent to a hospital for evaluation. All eight were discharged by the following day.
Provincetown sits at the end of Cape Cod, about 115 miles from Boston by car.