On October 28, 1991, the fishing boat had set out from Massachusetts for Newfoundland. But as it entered an area of intense weather that would later become kown as the Perfect Storm, it never returned.
The crew of six—Captain William Tyne, Robert Shatford, David Sullivan from Gloucester; Dale Murphy and Michael Moran from Bradenton Beach, FL; and Alfred Pierre from New York City—was lost at sea in the midt of 30 to 60 foot waves (some reports even say 100ft). After an extensive search effort that lasted nine days and included an Air National Guard helicopter running out of fuel and crashing off Long Island’s shore (resulting in one fatality), authorities called off the search due to the low probability of crew survival.
In August 1992, after months of uncertainty and mourning, fishermen discovered human remains onshore near Provincetown, MA. DNA testing confirmed it was one of the Andrea Gail’s crew members—Robert Shatford—ending months of anguish for his family. In November 1992, authorities found more remains from four additional crewmembers onshore in Maine. The last two bodies were never recovered.
The Andrea Gail tragedy is an example of life’s fragility and unpredictability at sea. Our thoughts are with all those affected by the loss of these brave fishermen who were taen too soon.
The Size of the Wave That Hit the Andrea Gail
The wave that hit the Andrea Gail was estimated to be approximately 75 feet high. This is based on data from October 1991, when winds of 60 miles per hour blew for nearly 24 hours near the last known position of the Andrea Gail. This generated a peak wave height of about 75 feet.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
The Fate of the Andrea Gail Crew
Unfortunately, the crew of the Andrea Gail were never found. The ship, captained by William Tyne, was battered by huge waves estimated to be beween 30 and 60 feet–some reports even say 100 feet–and was lost at sea. Onboard were Robert Shatford and David Sullivan from Gloucester, Dale Murphy and Michael Moran from Bradenton Beach, Florida, and Alfred Pierre from New York City. No trace of the vessel or its crew was ever discovered.
The Fate of the Andrea Gail Wreckage
The wreckage of the Andrea Gail was ultimately found after a search was called off by authorities on November 9, 1991. The search yielded only some debris such as fuel drums, a fuel tank, an empty life raft, and other flotsam. Unfortunately, no crew members were ever located. This tragedy is remembered as one of the worst in commercial fishing history.
Number of Coast Guard Deaths in the Perfect Storm
Sadly, the 1991 Perfect Storm resulted in the loss of 13 lives, including one Coast Guard crew member. The victim was Petty Officer Robert “Bobby” Shatford, who was serving as a rescue swimmer on an HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter that crashed off the coast of Long Island during the storm. He is remembered and honored for his bravery and dedication to protecting others during the storm.
Did Any Boats Survive the ‘Perfect Storm’?
No boats survived The Perfect Storm, which occurred in October 1991 off the coast of Nova Scotia. The storm was one of the most powerful and destructive storms ever recorded in the North Atlantic. The storm generated waves up to 100-feet high and hurricane-force winds reaching up to 150 miles per hour. As a result, several fishing vessels were destroyed and sunk during the storm, with no survivors from any of them. This included both commercial fishing vessels as well as recreational boaters who were caught in the storm’s path. In addition, many oter vessels were severely damaged by the intense winds and waves, though some did manage to make it back to port with their crews safe.
Source: bostonherald.com
The Loss of Life on the Andrea Gail
Six people were lost on the Andrea Gail during the Perfect Storm. The commercial fishing vessel was out of Gloucester, Massachusetts and was carrying a crew of six when it was lost at sea. This tragedy was part of a larger storm whih caused 13 deaths in total, as well as extensive damage to property with an estimated cost of $200 million.
Tragic Loss of the Crew of the Andrea Gail
The Andrea Gail tragically lost all six of its crew members: Captain Bill Tyne, 37, David Sullivan, 29, and Bob Shatford, 30, all of Gloucester; Dale Murphy and Michael Moran, both of Bradenton Beach, Florida; and Alfred Pierre, of New York City. All six brave fishermen were lost at sea without a trace in what has become known as the Perfect Storm of 1991.
Accuracy of the Movie ‘The Perfect Storm’
The movie The Perfect Storm is generally quite accurate in its depiction of the events of the real-life storm that occurred in 1991. While some aspects of the story have been exaggerated for cinematic effect, the storm itself was an incredibly powerful one. The meteorological data collected at the time shows that winds were sustained at more than 100 mph, and wave heights reached over 30 feet. What’s more, there have been reports of wave heights as high as 100 feet from eyewitnesses who were on board vessels in the area at the time. So whie some elements of the movie may be sensationalized, it is accurate in portraying what was a truly monstrous and destructive storm.
The Coast Guard’s Attempts to Rescue the Andrea Gail
Yes, the Coast Guard did try to save the Andrea Gail. On October 28th, 1991, Moore’s Coast Guard helicopter from Air Station Cape Cod was sent out to search for the missing fishing vessel. Unfortunately, due to limited fuel capacity and unfavorable weather conditions, the helicopter was forced to ditch. Despite not being able to locate the Andrea Gail and its crew, the Coast Guard crew did manage to rescue three crewmen from the Tamaroa and people from a nearby sailboat. The heroism and dedication of thse brave individuals should be celebrated for their willingness to put their lives at risk in order to save others.
Source: allthatsinteresting.com
Coast Guard Helicopter Loss During The Perfect Storm
Yes, the U.S. Coast Guard lost a helicopter during The Perfect Storm. On October 30, 1991, Major Robert Ruvola and his crew were flying Jolly 110, a Sikorsky HH-3F Pelican Helicopter on a rescue mission in the midt of the storm. With just twenty minutes of fuel remaining, Major Ruvola had to make the difficult decision to ditch the helicopter into the sea while the engines were still running. At 9:30 p.m., the Sikorsky’s number one engine flamed out from fuel starvation and all onboard were forced to abandon ship in their life rafts until they could be rescued by another Coast Guard vessel some hours later. Tragically, no lives were lost that day but the Coast Guard did lose an expensive piece of equipment during The Perfect Storm.
Is the Flemish Cap a Real Phenomenon?
Yes, The Flemish Cap is a real geographic feature located in the North Atlantic Ocean. It is an area of shallow waters that extends roughly between 47° and 48° north latitude, and 44° and 46° west longitude, or about 563 km (350 miles) east of St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. The Flemish Cap is a part of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, whch have been known since the 16th century for their abundance of fish species such as cod and haddock. The area has been an important fishing grounds for centuries, but has also become known for its hazardous weather conditions due to strong winds and storms.
The Depth of the Flemish Cap
The Flemish Cap is a shallow plateau of roughly 200 km in width, located east of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, and separated from them by the approximately 1200-m-deep Flemish Pass. The depths of the Flemish Cap range from depths of
Has a Coast Guard Cutter Ever Been Sunk?
Yes, a Coast Guard cutter has sunk. The most well-known incident occurred in 1989 when the CGC Mesquite ran aground near Keweenaw Point in Lake Superior. After being declared a total loss, the vessel was towed off the shoal and sunk in the lake as an artificial reef. This incident was significant as it marked the first time a U.S. Coast Guard cutter had been intentionally sunk for marine conservation purposes.
The CGC Mesquite is just one example of a Coast Guard cutter that has sunk over the years. In the early 1900s, several cutters were lost while patrolling during World War I and World War II, including CGC Acushnet which was sunk by a German U-boat in 1942 and CGC Tampa which went down during a storm in 1918 with all hands lost. Other cutters have also been lost to storms, collisions, fires, and other natural disasters or causes throughout history.
Has Storm Unice Resulted in Any Deaths?
Yes, Storm Eunice has killed at least four people. In England, three individuals died as a result of the storm. A man in his twenties was killed in Alton, Hampshire after the car he was travelling in collided with a tree. Additionally, two men were killed near Birmingham and the Isle of Wight respectively. In Ireland, one man was killed whle trying to secure his boat during the storm. Furthermore, another man is currently hospitalized with serious injuries related to the storm.
The Conflict Between Murph and Sully
Murph and Sully have a strained relationship due to Sully’s history with Murph’s ex-wife. It is implied that Sully had an affair with Murph’s ex-wife when they were still together, which led to the dissolution of their marriage. This created a rift beteen Sully and Murph, as Murph felt betrayed by Sully and held a grudge against him. Furthermore, while they are both caring fathers, they have different parenting styles which can clash at times.
Conclusion
The Andrea Gail was a vessel that sadly met its end during the 1991 Perfect Storm. With a crew of six men, Captain William Tyne, Robert Shatford, David Sullivan, Dale Murphy, Michael Moran and Alfred Pierre, it was lost at sea with catastrophic consequences. Winds of up to 60 miles per hour and waves reaching 75 feet caused the ship to break aprt and sink in the unforgiving Atlantic Ocean. Despite an extensive search effort, no trace of the vessel was ever found. The tragedy of the Andrea Gail serves as a reminder of how dangerous unpredictable weather can be on the high seas.
