USCG, Navy Continue Search for Student Overboard in Pacific

The Coast Guard and Navy are continuing the search for a student reported overboard from a Japanese training vessel approximately 70 miles southwest of Kauai, Tuesday.

Coast Guard and Navy assets have searched 9,412 square miles totaling 83 search hours.

Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector Honolulu Command Center were notified at 9:56 a.m., regarding a 17-year-old male Japanese national who was reported overboard from the 208-foot Japanese training vessel, Hokuho Maru during their transit from Honolulu to Japan.

The man was last seen at approximately 2:50 a.m., and was reported missing after he did not show up for muster. He was last seen wearing a light green jump suit. It is not known if he was wearing a life jacket.

An HC-130 Hercules airplane crew from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point was diverted from a training mission and is currently searching the area.

The Coast Guard Cutter Kittiwake, homeported here, and the Coast Guard Cutter Kiska, homeported in Hilo, Hawaii are assisting in the search along with the USS Lake Champlain, homeported in San Diego, Calif.

The Hokuho Maru is retracing its route to search for the missing student along with its two sister training vessels, the Tosakaien Maru and the Chishio Maru.