San Francisco — Local and federal agencies continued search-and-rescue operations and an investigation after a 49-foot, three-level motorboat rolled and sank near Alcatraz Island, leaving two people dead and two unaccounted for.
What happened and who is involved
Rescuers pulled 17 people from the water after the vessel began sinking Tuesday under the Golden Gate Bridge, according to accounts from witnesses and officials at the scene. Emergency crews transported at least one man to shore where he received CPR, but he was later pronounced dead. A female passenger recovered from the bay was also pronounced dead. Two passengers remain missing as search teams scour the area.
The U.S. Coast Guard’s San Francisco sector, local police and other first responders took part in the response. The boat, described by officials as a 49-foot cabin cruiser with three levels, had been carrying about 20 passengers on a memorial voyage when it capsized.
Unclear cause, experts skeptical of single-wave explanation
Survivors relayed to Coast Guard officials that a wave struck the vessel and caused it to list and roll, Capt. Jarod Toczko, the U.S. Coast Guard’s San Francisco sector commander, said in briefings reported by regional media. But maritime experts and experienced local captains interviewed at the scene expressed skepticism that a single wave alone could flip a boat of that size.
"Something went catastrophically wrong with the boat to make it go down like that,"
said James Smith, a veteran seaman and captain of the charter fishing boat California Dawn, who responded after hearing a radio call for help. Smith, who has operated charter boats for 35 years, told reporters he saw what looked like steam or smoke and then a large motorboat rapidly sinking.
Ongoing search, recovery and investigation
Search-and-rescue teams remained active across the bay on Thursday, using aircraft and vessels to look for the two missing passengers and to locate the sunken wreckage. Authorities said they will not be able to determine a definitive cause until the boat is recovered from the water and a full maritime investigation is completed.
- Passengers aboard: roughly 20
- People rescued: 17
- Fatalities: 2 confirmed
- Missing: 2
Officials have not released the names of the victims or additional details about the passenger manifest. Investigators will examine potential mechanical failures, water ingress, stability issues and witness statements as part of a comprehensive probe.
Local implications
The incident has raised questions among Bay Area mariners and recreational boaters about vessel safety, passenger limits and emergency preparedness on multilevel boats operating in choppy conditions. Authorities emphasized that a definitive explanation will depend on the recovery and technical inspection of the vessel.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vessel type | 49-foot, three-level motorboat (cabin cruiser) |
| Location | Near Alcatraz Island / under Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Bay |
| Passengers on board | About 20 |
| Rescued | 17 |
| Confirmed dead | 2 |
| Missing | 2 |
As investigators work to recover the vessel and piece together the sequence of events, Bay Area mariners and the public should expect increased Coast Guard activity in the area and follow advisories from local authorities.
