The Antigua Barbuda Defence Force (ABDF) continues its joint efforts with local and regional partners to locate and rescue fishermen aboard Fishing Vessel (FV) MOYA, which was reported overdue since Saturday, 22nd February 2025.
The three persons on board are Mathias Greenaway (Captain), Glenmore Matthew, and Clancy Samuel. FV MOYA is a 30-foot fishing vessel with a grey hull and white superstructure.
The vessel departed Market Wharf in Antigua on Friday, 21st February 2025, at approximately 1:00 PM, with the intent to fish between Antigua and Barbuda. The crew was expected to return by 8:00 AM on Saturday, 22nd February.
Upon receiving the report, the ABDF Coast Guard escalated the situation to the distress phase. A PAN-PAN message, a marine broadcast used in times of urgency, was immediately aired in a cyclical pattern over VHF Channel 16 to alert mariners operating in the general search area.
Since the initial report, over nineteen cumulative hours were spent conducting search efforts by air and sea. The search assets included vessels from the ABDF Coast Guard, St. Kitts and Nevis Coast Guard, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Coast Guard, and air assets from the ABDF Air Wing and the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) Fort-de-France.
Sea conditions to date have remained unfavourable, with a high surf advisory in effect for Antigua and Barbuda over the weekend. Despite these challenging conditions, the ABDF and its partners remain fully committed to locating FV MOYA and safely returning her crew to port.
Anyone with information that could assist in the search or lead to the successful rescue of FV MOYA’s crew is asked to contact the Acting Executive Officer, Lieutenant (Naval) Trish Lake, at 268-729-5802, or the Coast Guard hotline at 268-462-3206, 462-2841/2/3.
The ABDF continues to urge all mariners to adhere to local and international regulations for the safe operation of sea-going vessels.
We assure the public that every available resource is being utilised to ensure the safe return of these Mariners to their families.
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