Mass. Gov. Healey asks US Navy to help with investigation into sunken Gloucester fishing vessel

GLOUCESTER, Mass. — Governor Maura Healey is asking the United States Navy to help with the investigation of the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean.

The Lily Jean sank off the coast of Gloucester back at the end of January, and family members of the crew are still desperately waiting for answers.

Donna Short is the mother of Freeman Short, one of seven people on board the ship when it sank.

“What caused it is not as important as retrieving the crew,” Donna said.

At 31, Freeman was planning a wedding and was an active member of the military.

Donna said Freeman called her just days before the fishing trip.

“He told me, ‘Hey mom, you know I’m going to be going,’ and I told him I loved him,” Donna said.

It’s been almost four months, and family members still don’t know why the ship wasn’t able to return home.

This week, Governor Healey sent a letter alongside State Senator Bruce Tarr, asking Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao to assess the possibility of recovering the remains of six crew members still lost at sea.

The body of the ship’s captain was the only one recovered.

For Donna, bringing Freeman and the rest of the crew home is essential.

“It’s a matter of laying him to rest where his legacy began next to both of his grandfathers who are veterans,” Donna explained.

Healey also asked the Navy to help retrieve key equipment still on the ship, including a hard drive and a video recorder.

Donna believes the footage could provide some insight into the moments leading up to the tragedy.

“It’s like having six bodies in a room and you’re trying to find out everything except ask the eyewitness what happened, that’s how imperative that camera is,” Donna said.

The company that installed the equipment believes video on board the ship is still retrievable.

Families believe any footage or data that can be retrieved could help with the United States Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board’s ongoing investigation into what caused the ship to sink.

The NTSB said they don’t conduct recovery efforts, and the USCG exhausted its search for the missing crew members January 31st.

The Office of the Secretary of the Navy told Boston 25 News on Saturday that they have received Healey’s letter and are preparing a response.

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