Five days into the search for a missing fishing boat with 40 souls on board, the sighting of a life jacket believed to have come from the boat leaves a sinking feeling for Jamaicans who had hoped against all odds that there were survivors.

Published Sunday, July 7, 1963

Life-jacket identified as one from boat

WITH THE spotting of a floating body and the identification of a lifebelt to be that from the Snowboy, it is now fairly certain that the 63-foot American fishing boat, missing since Tuesday, July 2 with its Australian skipper and 39 Jamaica, is now resting beneath Caribbean waters.

At the Palisadoes International Airport on July 6, Mr Byron Hill to whom the boat was under charter, identified a lifebelt as being from the boat.

The lifebelt was among two helicopter-loads of debris and equipment picked up during the search for the missing craft. A destroyed life jacket and pieces of lumber were among the equipment which has all been handed over to the Harbour Master Capt. S. H. Williers.

As the US airman drought in debris at the airport, they revealed that rough seas have been experienced in the Pedro Cays area (the boat’s intended destination) and that helicopters have been circling over the floating body.

The Habour Master’s buoy tender M/V JAMAICA which left on Friday, July 5 for the Pedro Cays area investigating various reports and which was on its way back when the body was spotted, was radioed to return and pick up the body. 

The boat sailed from the Zero Processing Wharf at around 6:00 pm on July 1 and was expected to reach its destination in the Pedro Cays within eight hours. Aboard the vessel were the owner’s two sons and his brother.

As the search continues the Harbour Master has requested all vessels in the area to investigate and advise United States aircraft from the Coast Guard and Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, which are conducting the search.

A US Embassy official said last night (July 6), that discovery of the body with a life vest was made on July 6 by planes from the American aircraft carrier Wasp about 40 miles west of the Pedro Banks. The Wasp ended a four-day visit to Kingston on July 5.

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