SEVEN PEOPLE MISSING OFF CAROLINA COAST

CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Coast Guard is searching for a 27-foot chartered fishing vessel with seven people aboard that is missing somewhere off Murrells Inlet, S.C.

Super Suds II, a chartered fishing vessel owned by Marlin Quay Marina in Garden City, S.C., was reported missing yesterday at around 8 p.m. by its owners after the vessel did not return to the marina at its scheduled time of 6:30 p.m.

Personnel at Marlin Quay Marina spoke with the crew of Super Suds II at about 5 p.m. yesterday. The crew of Super Suds II reported that they were on their way in and expected to be back to Marlin Quay Marina at about 6:30 p.m.

The Coast Guard received a call from Marlin Quay Marina at approximately 8 p.m. reporting Super Suds II missing. The chartered fishing vessel's last known position was about 60-miles east of Murrells Inlet.

Rescue coordinators from Coast Guard Sector Charleston launched a helicopter from Air Facility Charleston and rescue boat from Station Georgetown, S.C., to search for Super Suds II. The rescue boat crew and aircrew searched until 12 a.m. today.

A Coast Guard aircrew in a fixed-wing C-130 aircraft from Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., and a rescue boat crew from Station Georgetown, S.C., resumed the search for the Super Suds II today at 4 a.m.

Rescue coordinators have also recalled the 87-foot Coast Guard Cutter Tarpon from Tybee Island, Ga., to assist in the search. The Tarpon should be off Murrells Inlet today at about 10 a.m.

The crew of Super Suds II reportedly has the appropriate safety and survival gear aboard their vessel including lifejackets, a VHF marine radio, and a emergency position indicating radio beacon or EPIRB.

The conditions offshore when the vessel went missing were favorable with three-to-four foot seas, 10-to-15 knot winds and clear skies. The conditions remain the same for the search for the missing vessel.