The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search Wednesday evening for three people still missing after a boat capsized near Alcatraz Island during a family memorial outing in San Francisco Bay.
The 49-foot cabin cruiser sank Tuesday afternoon with 20 people aboard. One passenger died after being pulled from the water, and a dog aboard also died, while 16 others were rescued.
Authorities said the group had gathered to scatter the ashes of a loved one during a family memorial service on the water.
Coast Guard commanders said suspending an active search is among the most difficult decisions they make, emphasizing that the goal is always to bring loved ones home.
Crews searched for roughly 23 hours using 11 surface vessels and four aircraft. The operation covered about 950 square nautical miles and more than 1,700 miles of search track before officials determined the likelihood of finding additional survivors was low.
Families of the missing were notified before the search was suspended.
Officials said the boat was struck by a wave, listed heavily, lost stability, and rolled over before sinking. Investigators found no evidence of a fire, concluding that what witnesses believed was smoke was likely steam from the sinking vessel.
The vessel had three enclosed levels. Survivor interviews indicated some passengers were inside the main and lower decks when it capsized, and it remains possible that some of the missing became trapped as it sank, though no conclusions have been reached.
Three survivors were taken to local hospitals and later released. Thirteen others were treated at a reunification center after the rescue.
Officials believe the boat rests in waters about 130 feet deep near the site of the sinking. Crews must first locate the vessel before using an underwater drone to assess whether recovery is safe, as divers generally cannot operate beyond 120 feet.
Coast Guard officials credited nearby fishermen and other boaters with helping save lives before emergency crews arrived.
The recreational vessel departed from near a yacht club and had visited Angel Island before the emergency occurred while returning across the bay. The cause of the sinking remains under investigation.
