US Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam suspended the search for a missing vessel with nine people aboard in the Hall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), on Sunday, August 9.
At approximately 10:00 local time on July 31, 2026, watchstanders at US Coast Guard Joint Rescue Sub-Center (JRSC) Guam received notification that a 20-foot (six-metre) skiff traveling within the Hall Island Atoll did not return as scheduled to Ruo Island on July 30.
Coast guard watchstanders coordinated with local and international partners, issued maritime safety broadcasts, and identified available search assets.
The extensive 10-day, multi-partner search covered approximately 25,000 square nautical miles and more than 31 search patterns.
“We have made the difficult decision to suspend our active search,” said Lieutenant Adeeb Ahmad, search and rescue mission coordinator, Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam. “Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of the missing during this challenging time. We are also extremely grateful to the international and US military partners who worked tirelessly alongside us."
Assets involved in the search effort included: US Coast Guard JRSC Guam; the US Coast Guard fast respone cutter USCGC Vincent Danz; a US Coast Guard C-130 aircraft from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point, Kapolei, Hawaii; a US Air Force C-130 from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam; two US Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft from Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan; and the Guardian-class patrol boat FSS Tosiwo Nakayama of the FSM National Police.
In addition, two commercial vessels, Fermament Ace and Hikari 1, provided assistance. The vessels are part of the Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue System, in which commercial vessels volunteer to assist in high-seas search and rescue operations.
