Coast Guard: Boat found of missing fishermen, no one on board

OAK ISLAND, NC (WWAY) — The Coast Guard and partner agencies are continuing to search for two boaters after they were reported overdue on Sunday near Oak Island.

Coast Guard crews from Charleston are relieving North Carolina crews to continue the search.

Missing are Steve Chaney and David Hambrick of Gaston County.

The boaters got underway aboard a 22-foot fishing boat at approximately 11:30 a.m. Sunday from the South Harbor Boat Ramp in Oak Island. The spouse of one of the men contacted the Coast Guard after they did not return by dark as expected.

Coast Guard and Navy aircrews along with Coast Guard vessels are actively searching for the missing boaters from Charleston to Myrtle Beach.

Petty Officer 1st Class Luke Clayton said Friday that the boat hadn’t capsized, but was just floating in the ocean. Clayton said there were no signs of distress to indicate Hambrick and Chaney were forcibly removed from the boat.

Petty Officer 1st Class Luke Clayton said Friday that the boat hadn’t capsized, but was just floating in the ocean. Clayton said there were no signs of distress to indicate Hambrick and Chaney were forcibly removed from the boat. Clayton said the search for the men will continue and would be expanded.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Steve Chaney or David Hambrick is asked to contact Coast Guard Sector Charleston at (843) 740-7050.

#USCG located missing fishermen’s vessel 15 miles E of Murrells Inlet. No persons were on board. https://t.co/gH3hT6Ru5l #BreakingNews

— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) September 1, 2017