US Coast Guard continues search off Georgia coast for missing fishing vessel not seen in days

A search for three people and a fishing vessel off the coast of Georgia by the United States Coast Guard is ongoing.

The Coast Guard announced Saturday it was looking for the Carol Ann, "an overdue 31-foot fishing vessel," and its crew: Dalton Conway, Caleb Wilkinson and Tyler Barlow.

The owner of the boat told the Coast Guard he hired the crew for a fishing trip but was concerned as it had been nearly a week since last communication and the crew was overdue for return, according to a press release.

The Coast Guard said air and ground crews had searched, "approximately 20,116 sq. miles," in a Sunday update on X, formerly known as Twitter.

There have been attempts to communicate with the crew via radio with no results. The Coast Guard received a report from someone who believes he saw "a vessel matching the description of the Carol Ann on Wednesday," according to the release.

Multiple Coast Guard units are involved in the search, as is the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

Watch now:Video shows Coast Guard rescuing mariners after luxury yacht capsizes near North Carolina

Preparation saves lives at sea

Coast Guard officials have previously pointed to seafaring preparedness as a contributing factor to successful search and rescue missions.

Operations unit controller Petty Officer First Class Austin Lang said that Emergency Position Indicating Radiobeacon (EPIRB) – devices that alert rescue authorities and indicate your location – a proper radio, and a functional life raft were key to saving lives in the rescue of mariners on a luxury yacht that capsized off the coast of North Carolina, according to a press release about the operation.

“These sailors had the right gear on board, it worked, they knew how to use it, and it’s because of that we were able to find them and bring them home safely,” Lang said.