Tragedy Off America’s Oldest Seaport Claims 7 Lives as Fishing Boat Sinks in Frigid Waters

Tragedy Off America’s Oldest Seaport Claims 7 Lives as Fishing Boat Sinks in Frigid Waters
Gryphon Orfanos, who in the past worked on the fishing vessel "Lily Jean", stands on the pier of the homeport of the fishing boat that went missing with seven onboard in Gloucester, Mass., on Feb. 2, 2026. AP Photo/Charles Krupa
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BOSTON—The seven victims of a marine disaster that devastated a storied Massachusetts fishing town included a fifth-generation fisherman, a young federal fisheries observer and a father-and-son crew duo. All died when their fishing boat, the Lily Jean, sank in waters off America’s oldest seaport.

The sinking underscored the risks long inherent in Gloucester’s fishing industry, which spans more than 400 years and was famously chronicled in “The Perfect Storm.” The names of the crew will be added to a city memorial honoring thousands of fishermen lost at sea over generations.