Coast Guard ends search after fishing vessel Yankee Rose sank off Cape Cod, killing 2

The search has been called off for any survivors after a commercial fishing vessel with two people aboard sank off Cape Cod, the U.S. Coast Guard said Friday.

Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England received a notification just before noon Thursday that the vessel Yankee Rose was overturned about three nautical miles northeast of Race Point in Provincetown. Coast Guard crews arrived on the scene along with local agencies minutes later.

One person was recovered from the boat but on Friday, the town manager of Provincetown, Alex Morse, said that person had died. He did not provide any further information about the person. The search for the second person was suspended Friday afternoon after 21 hours.

“We express our deepest condolences for the family and loved ones,” the Coast Guard said in a statement.

Angel Luis Nieves was one of the people aboard the boat, and his sister has confirmed to WBZ-TV that he died.

She posted a tribute to her brother on an online fundraiser website. She says Angel will be, “fondly remembered by his family as a devoted family man who deeply loved God, his four children, nieces and nephews, the ocean, and lived with a generous heart.”

The Coast Guard said despite adverse weather and sea conditions, including freezing temperatures, an active small craft advisory and a gale warning, “all available resources were leveraged in the effort to locate the missing mariner.”

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“The decision to suspend a search is never taken lightly, and we offer our most sincere condolences to the families of the lost fisherman,” said Coast Guard Cmdr. Thomas Wieland.
Yankee Rose Provincetown Fishing vessel Yankee Rose capsized off the coast of Provincetown, Massachusetts. US Coast Guard
The sinking comes just over a month after the Lily Jean sank off Gloucester, killing all seven aboard. The 72-foot vessel was returning to port early Jan. 30 to repair fishing gear when it sank in frigid Atlantic waters off the historic fishing port of Gloucester.

Morse wrote on Facebook how he was “deeply saddened” by the sinking of the Yankee Rose.

“Provincetown has a long and proud maritime history, and fishing has always been a central part of our community’s identity,” he wrote. “The fishing community is a close-knit one, where the dangers of the sea are well understood and deeply respected. We know the loss of these fellow fishermen will no doubt be deeply felt by many here who share that bond.”

The Yankee Rose is the same fishing boat where two people were found unconscious from carbon monoxide poisoning while it was docked at a pier in Provincetown last week. Six first responders were also exposed to carbon monoxide during the incident and taken to the hospital to be evaluated. It is unclear if the two fishermen who died this week were involved in that incident too.

Morse said he didn’t believe the sinking Thursday was connected to carbon monoxide exposure but referred any further questions to the Cape & Islands District Attorney’s Office. A spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Coast Guard and Massachusetts Environmental Police are investigating the sinking of the Yankee Rose.

Provincetown is located at the end of Cape Cod, about 115 miles (185 km) from Boston and 150 miles (241 km) from Gloucester by car.

Makayla and Jose Nieves told Boston 25 News their oldest brother, Angel Nieves, was one of the two fishermen who were lost at sea while scallop fishing off Provincetown on the Yankee Rose, a fishing vessel out of New Bedford.

The heartbroken siblings of a fisherman who died when the boat he was on capsized Thursday shared their memories of their brother while hoping for answers.

Makayla and Jose Nieves told Boston 25 News their oldest brother, Angel Nieves, was one of the two fishermen who were lost at sea while scallop fishing off Provincetown on the Yankee Rose, a fishing vessel out of New Bedford.

“It’s like a piece of us is gone,” Makayla said. “Every time he would go out, he’d make sure that he would call all of us and let us know he loved us and he was going out. And there was always a risk that he may not come back.”

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Angel, a 37-year-old father of four and fiancé, had turned his lifelong love of fishing and boating into a career as a commercial fisherman, his siblings said.

“My dad took us fishing every weekend since I could remember,” Makayla said. “We were always on the water.”

Hours after Angel shared video on his Facebook page of the serene early-morning waters, the Coast Guard would recover the overturned boat.

First responders recovered one body within minutes and, after 21 hours, suspended their search Friday afternoon.

Search ends for survivors after fishing vessel sank off Cape Cod, killing 2

Officials have not released the identity of the other fisherman.

“It came [as] a shock to us, because it’s like, what went wrong?” Jose said. “It was calm out there. That’s why we’re waiting to find [out].”

The tragedy came one week after Angel and another on board were found unresponsive from carbon monoxide exposure on the very same boat. They were hospitalized and recovered, along with six first responders.


(Jeff Krehely)

“He was happy to go back on a fishing trip,” Makayla said. “He’s like, ‘I skipped death, and I’m going back out.’”

As the tight-knit fishing community grieves Thursday’s loss, a recent tragedy off the coast of Gloucester remains fresh in their memories.

Six fishermen and an observer perished when the Lily Jean sank in January. Angel had discussed the Gloucester tragedy with his family.

As the Nieves family grieves, they are comforted by their faith that Angel has joined his father, who died of cancer a year and a half ago.

“He’s home. He’s with his dad,” Makayla said. “I know my dad was there to greet him.”