US Navy Declines to Recover Lily Jean Wreck as Families Demand Answers

The US Navy has formally declined to assist in recovering the Lily Jean, a 72-foot commercial fishing vessel that sank off Gloucester in January 2026, killing all seven people aboard. In a letter dated July 27 and received August 5, Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao told Governor Maura Healey the military cannot support salvage operations. Families and state officials say recovering the vessel’s data equipment and remains is critical to understanding what caused the disaster.

What the Navy said and why

Hung Cao, the Navy’s acting secretary, wrote that while deeply sympathetic to the families, the Navy is unable to fulfill the salvage request. Cao cited the Salvage Facilities Act, noting that any recovery services would require reimbursement. He stated that the US Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board already have sufficient information to conclude their investigation. The Navy said it has received no request from federal authorities to recover the vessel itself.

What Massachusetts officials wanted

Governor Healey and State Senator Bruce Tarr, the minority leader representing Gloucester, sent their request to the Navy in May. They asked for help retrieving a hard drive and video recorder from the wreckage, which sits approximately 350 feet below the Atlantic surface. State officials stressed that the data equipment could provide critical information about maritime safety for future crews. Tarr said he expected a response within days, but it took nearly three months.

Families and officials push back

The sister of crew member John Rousanidis told reporters that raising the vessel is the only way to determine exactly what caused it to sink and to give families closure. State Senator Tarr called the Navy’s response disappointing and pledged to continue pursuing all available avenues to obtain information about the sinking. Governor Healey’s office said it remains hopeful for federal assistance and is continuing state-level efforts to investigate the equipment and bring closure to the families.

What happened to the Lily Jean

The vessel went down under mysterious circumstances roughly 25 miles east of Gloucester in late January 2026. Those lost included Captain Accursio Sanfilippo, five crew members, and a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration fisheries observer. The US Coast Guard leads the investigation, with the National Transportation Safety Board also involved. Neither agency has publicly disclosed what caused the sinking.

Final Thoughts

The Navy’s refusal leaves families without answers and removes a potential path to understanding the disaster. Massachusetts officials say they will pursue alternative federal assistance and continue state investigations, but the wreck may remain on the ocean floor indefinitely.

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