Coast Guard suspends search for Chinese sailor off Virginia

PORTSMOUTH, Va. – Rescuers with the U.S. Coast Guard have suspended their search for a Chinese sailor who went missing in waters off the lower Chesapeake Bay.

The Coast Guard’s command centre in Portsmouth on Virginia’s coast received notice early Tuesday that a crewman had fallen from a 770-foot Lara Venture cargo ship at the Cape Charles Anchorage.

But after factoring in details such as water temperature and weather conditions, rescuers suspended their efforts following 12 hours of searching by water and air.

The 33-year-old Chinese national was last seen fastening a ladder on the Hong Kong-registered cargo vessel’s right side when he fell overboard. He wasn’t wearing a life jacket.

Authorities scoured an area of roughly 112 square miles for the missing sailor.