After a multi-day search effort, officials have located Sudden Impact, the boat that was carrying two Maine fishermen who have been missing since Saturday evening.
The 34-foot scallop vessel carrying Chester Barrett and his son, Aaron Barrett, changed course due to poor sea conditions and did not arrive at its expected destination. The two fishermen had apparently left Cobscook Bay State Park around 5 a.m. Saturday. They were from South Addison and had been expected to return to South Addison from Edmunds that evening.
Around 11 p.m. Wednesday, the state’s Underwater Recovery Team took advantage of the tides and used a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) equipped with sonar and a camera to confirm the sunken vessel’s location. It’s near Moose Cove in eastern Washington County, between Cutler and Lubec, according to a press release from the Maine Department of Marine Resources.
Using the ROV, crews were able to see what is believed to be the body of an individual on board the vessel, officials said.
“The Maine Marine Patrol will continue to work with family members of the Barretts to determine next steps, including consultation with deep water salvage and recovery experts to determine whether a recovery effort is feasible,” the release stated.
The Underwater Recovery Team consists of members from Maine State Police and the Maine Marine Patrol. The team conducts searches and documentation of evidence in criminal investigations. The team also conducts search and recovery operations for victims of motor vehicle crashes, homicide, and other water-related deaths. The team is often called upon to search vessels and harbors in Maine as part of Homeland Security, according to its website.