John Ansay, 31, of North Kingstown, Rhode Island, was listed as missing after the fishing vessel F/V MISTRESS sank in the early morning hours of January 1, 2019. The 52-foot trawler reportedly went down about 3 nautical miles off Block Island while en route to port with a large catch of scup as a gale arrived earlier than predicted. Weather at the time was rough, with 10-foot seas and 30 to 35 knot winds.

Ansay was one of three crew aboard; his uncle Oscar Diaz, the captain and owner, was also lost and a third crewman, Tim Diaz, was rescued by the nearby F/V CAPTAIN BLIGH. All three reportedly donned survival suits and entered the water as the boat listed, but became separated. The Coast Guard searched more than 2,152 square nautical miles with cutters, aircraft, and local units for nearly 72 hours before suspending the search when conditions exceeded survivability models. The Coast Guard Investigative Service in Boston is the lead agency.

If anyone witnessed the MISTRESS, the rescue, or has information about John’s last known movements, please share what is known.