Maritime News

The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for Gregory Luckett, the man reported missing in the Chesapeake Bay on Thursday night, November 5, 2009. 

 
Forty-nine year old, Luckett was returning from a work site when he fell off the back of a 25-foot construction barge. Luckett was a resident of Pasadena, Maryland.

 
The 41-foot utility boat crew from the Coast Guard was joined in the search by Maryland National Resources Police, Anne Arundel Fire Rescue, Maryland State Police, an Anne Arundel County Helicopter and two rescue helicopter crews from the Atlantic City, New Jersey based Coast Guard Air Station.

 
The rescue workers searched through the night covering almost 60 nautical miles of the Chesapeake Bay. They returned on Friday at dawn to continue the search.  After an exhaustive search, they were unable to find the missing man. The search was suspended.

 
At this time of year, hypothermia is a real risk for those who fall in the water. At 60-70 degrees, a person can only survive from 2-7 hours. The Coast Guard is working to educate local mariners about hypothermia and the dangers of cold water.

 
The events leading to Mr. Luckett’s fall are currently under investigation.