By Jite Eriabie
U.S. authorities are investigating the disappearance of the chief mate of a bulk carrier who went missing while his ship was at anchor in Puget Sound near Seatle, Washington last week.
U.S. Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound command center watchstanders received a call last Thursday, Feb. 15, from the captain of the Marshall Islands-flagged Golden Jake, reporting their chief mate missed the evening muster held at 6 p.m. that night as the vessel was anchored north of Blake Island State Park.
The chief mate, a Philippine native, was last seen during the morning vessel muster at 10:30 a.m. and was reportedly wearing red overalls. The crew conducted a complete search of the ship with negative results.
The Coast Guard suspended the search after conducting 25 searches throughout the night and the following morning.
The vessel, which was waiting to offload in Seattle, had been at anchor north of Blake Island State Park for 48 hours prior to the crew member going missing.
An investigation between Sector Puget Sound investigating officers and Customs and Border Protections officers is being conducted.
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