ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The Coast Guard suspended the search for a missing passenger from Fallbrook who was aboard the Holland America cruise ship Oosterdam, authorities said.
The Coast Guard's combined search effort included three Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew searches Saturday, and on the water searches by the crews of the Coast Guard Cutter Naushon and a small boat station Ketchikan's 47-foot motor life boat.
The searches covered more than 352 miles and ended Saturday at 3:45 p.m.
"Suspending a case is one of the hardest decisions that we as search and rescuers have to make and our thoughts and prayers are with the family," said Petty Officer 1st Class Lindsey Kirby, SectorJuneau Operations unit controller. "While we have suspended active searching, we encourage anyone who sees anything while transiting though the area to call the Coast Guard."
Coast Guard Sector Juneau Command Center received notification Friday at 4 p.m. from the cruise line reporting that Blake Kepley, a 20-year-old Fallbrook resident, was missing and had possibly gone overboard early Friday between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m. while the vessel was transiting from Sitka to Ketchikan.
The man was reported missing by family members when he did not arrive to exit from the cruise ship in Ketchikan as scheduled.
Weather in the search area was reported as clear with winds less than 10 mph and calm seas.
For information from Holland America, call 1-800-637-5029.
The Coast Guard's combined search effort included three Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew searches Saturday, and on the water searches by the crews of the Coast Guard Cutter Naushon and a small boat station Ketchikan's 47-foot motor life boat.
The searches covered more than 352 miles and ended Saturday at 3:45 p.m.
"Suspending a case is one of the hardest decisions that we as search and rescuers have to make and our thoughts and prayers are with the family," said Petty Officer 1st Class Lindsey Kirby, SectorJuneau Operations unit controller. "While we have suspended active searching, we encourage anyone who sees anything while transiting though the area to call the Coast Guard."
Coast Guard Sector Juneau Command Center received notification Friday at 4 p.m. from the cruise line reporting that Blake Kepley, a 20-year-old Fallbrook resident, was missing and had possibly gone overboard early Friday between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m. while the vessel was transiting from Sitka to Ketchikan.
The man was reported missing by family members when he did not arrive to exit from the cruise ship in Ketchikan as scheduled.
Weather in the search area was reported as clear with winds less than 10 mph and calm seas.
For information from Holland America, call 1-800-637-5029.
