On August 16, 2021, 36-year-old Frank Denoga, a fisherman from New Bedford, Massachusetts, was reported missing at sea. He was a crewmember on the New Bedford-based scalloping vessel, the Blue Wave, which was operating approximately 60 to 70 nautical miles southeast of Nantucket. The alarm was raised late on Sunday night when Denoga did not show up for his scheduled watch and could not be found anywhere on the boat. The crew of the Blue Wave promptly contacted the U.S. Coast Guard to report him missing. It was reported that Denoga was wearing a sweatshirt when he went overboard and was not believed to have been wearing a life jacket.
The United States Coast Guard immediately initiated a comprehensive search and rescue operation. Crews from Air Station Cape Cod and the Coast Guard cutter Tybee were dispatched to the area to look for the missing fisherman. The extensive search effort involved both helicopters and surface vessels, covering a vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. Despite their efforts, which spanned over a significant area, no sign of Frank Denoga was found. After thoroughly searching 1,444 square nautical miles, the Coast Guard made the difficult decision to suspend their active search on Tuesday, August 17, 2021, pending any new information.
The fishing vessel Blue Wave, operated by Blue Harvest Fisheries, returned to port on the Tuesday morning following the incident. The CEO of the company expressed deep sadness and devastation over the loss of a crew member, describing the event as a tragedy. Upon their return, the remaining crew members were set to meet with Coast Guard officials as part of the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding Denoga's disappearance. The case remains an unsolved missing person case, and authorities continue to ask for any information that might shed light on what happened to Frank Denoga in the waters off Nantucket.
Last Seen: Aug 16, 2021
