The U.S. Coast Guard has called off a 14 hour search for a missing pilot who fell off the ship he was to pilot on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2007. Missing is Lynn Deibert, 52, a pilot with the Chesapeake Federal Pilots Association. His home of record is Virginia Beach, Virginia. Deibert fell while ascending the ladder of the Energy Enterprise, a 645 foot ship bound for Baltimore, Maryland about two miles off the coast of Cape Heniopen at the mouth of Delaware Bay. He was delivered to the ship by the pilot vessel Big Stone 5. Witnesses say Deibert was wearing a flotation device and was thrown life rings but he was never spotted again.
Weather conditions at the time of the accident were reported as a wind of 20-25 knots, six foot seas, clear visibility, and below freezing air temperature with 39 degree F water temperature.
The U.S. Coast Guard responded with an HH -65C Dolphin helicopter, a 47 foot and 41 foot rescue boat and the USCG cutter Dependable. Aditional helicopter sorties were flown and at sunrise a USCG HC-130 aircraft joined the search.
The search was terminated about 2:20pm EST on Monday, February 5 after 14 hours.
The Energy Enterprise continued enroute to Baltimore where USCG will inspect the ship and interview the crew. The Big Stone 5 is enroute to Lewes, Delaware for inspection.