Gone Fishing: When the Sea Doesn’t Answer Back

It’s Sunday again. And this time, I write with a heavy heart.

For over a week now, the island has been holding its breath, gripped by the story of four fishermen who left on a vessel called Energy and haven’t returned. No signals, no sightings, no trace. Just silence, and a community that hasn’t stopped hoping.

The four men were experienced. This wasn’t their first outing. According to reports, they were all very versed at sea. They went out fishing as they usually do. At one point, they made a call to the Coast Guard and identified the yacht’s name. However, when the Coast Guard responded, they allegedly failed to maintain communication. According to the Coast Guard protocols, there was no reason to suspect anything was wrong, as no Mayday call or distress signal was issued.

The island, all of us, have been following every development with heavy hearts and quiet hope. In times like these, the community becomes something tangible. You feel it in conversations at the supermarket, in whispers at gas stations, in shared posts and prayers online. These men are part of us. Friends, fathers, neighbors. Sons of Aruba.

A Disappearance That Defies Explanation

What began as a regular outing at sea quickly turned into a troubling mystery. According to official reports, the Energy crew made contact with the Coast Guard. They identified their vessel, but no Mayday was issued. No request for help. No indication of distress. And when the Coast Guard responded, there was no further communication from the yacht.

Understandably, many have questioned this. After all, no one contacts the Coast Guard casually. But we also know that protocols exist for a reason. Without an urgent signal or expressed need, there was no immediate reason to assume danger.

Later that day, as concern grew among family members and the hours passed with no word, a full-scale search and rescue operation was launched. And the response was nothing short of extraordinary.

The Search So Far

The Kustwacht Caribisch Gebied (Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard) mobilized significant resources, including helicopters, aircraft, and patrol ships, aided by private vessels and local fishermen who dropped everything to join the effort. For days, the waters surrounding Aruba were thoroughly combed, and the search expanded well into international territory, ultimately reaching the waters of Colombia and Panama.

Moments like this remind us of the strength, and the value, of being part of the Dutch Kingdom. Thanks to that connection, Aruba has access to critical resources and capabilities we couldn’t muster alone. But let’s also remember: we’re not just here to receive. We are part of that Kingdom, and with that comes the responsibility to contribute, to show up, and to carry our weight when it’s our turn.

And yet, despite this massive undertaking, nothing has been found…No debris. No oil sheen. No cooler. No life jacket. No sign of the boat or its passengers. Just silence.

In Case of Emergency at Sea
If you ever find yourself in trouble out on the water, contact the Coast Guard’s Maritime Operations Center (MOC) immediately by dialing 913, available 24/7 across Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten.

When you call, be ready to clearly provide:

• Your exact location
• The nature of the emergency
• And how you can be reached for follow-up

Stay calm. Don’t panic. And answer the operator’s questions as clearly as possible, every second and every detail can make a difference.

Still We Hope

To the families and loved ones of the missing: we cannot begin to imagine the depth of your fear or the pain of this uncertainty. But please know that #YourFavoritelawyer and Aruba stands with you. This community is holding space for you, praying with you, searching with you, and hoping with you. Because until we know otherwise, we hold on to what we still have — hope.

And that hope, however fragile, is what continues to bind us in these difficult days.

A Moment for Reflection

Even as we hope for the best, this is also a time to reflect. The ocean is breathtaking, but it is also unpredictable. This incident, heartbreaking as it is, should prompt us to take a closer look at how we prepare for the sea, our everyday life, and how we can improve our safety protocols, both officially and personally.

Let me tell you a story. A few years ago, I was returning from a Sunday on the water with my dear brother, Michael Saladin. Just after we passed a cruise ship at the port, our speedboat ran out of fuel. No power. No control. The current started pulling us away from the coastline, and within a minute, the cruise ship let out a thunderous horn, not a courtesy honk, but the kind that makes your heart stop.

Port authorities arrived quickly, initially assuming we were just goofing off and perhaps trying to be cute by blocking the pathway of the cruise ship. But once we explained we’d lost our engine, they stepped in. Thankfully, it was still daytime. We were visible. We were lucky. But that close call changed how I saw the sea. A beautiful day can turn into something else entirely, fast.

Tools That Save Lives

Technology has come a long way, and it’s time we put it to use. Here are a few life-saving tools that could make all the difference:

• Garmin inReach Mini 2 – Two-way satellite communicator with SOS, GPS tracking, and global coverage.
  
• Ocean Signal rescueME PLB1 personal locator beacon. A compact emergency beacon that transmits distress signals via satellite. Available on Amazon.
  
• Garmin ResQLink View RLS – PLB with built-in screen and return-link confirmation to let you know help is en route. Available on Amazon.
  
• sMRT ALERT AIS Beacons – Water-activated personal beacons that send your exact location to nearby vessels.

These devices range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand. In the world of yachting and boating , where maintenance, fuel, and gear already cost plenty , this isn’t extravagant. It’s responsible.

The Breitling That Could Save Your Life

In 1995, Breitling accomplished something remarkable. They launched the first wristwatch, the Breitling Emergency Watch, with a built-in emergency microtransmitter, tuned to the international air distress frequency (121.5 MHz). A dual-frequency distress watch that can be picked up by aircraft and rescue services (though with a luxury price tag). The idea was simple but powerful: if a pilot went down, this watch could help rescuers locate them. And it worked. Aviation pros around the world wore them every day. The watch became a trusted backup, not flashy or gimmicky, but a tool that had earned its place. Over the years, more than 40,000 people have bought one, and in many cases, it has helped save lives. Breitling has since taken it a step further, introducing an updated version with a full personal locator beacon (PLB) built in. It’s a serious piece of gear for people who take risk seriously, whether you’re flying, climbing, or heading out to sea.

Safety Starts with the Basics

Sometimes, it’s not about the tech. It starts with a simple vest or a personal flotation device. Mia culpa, I have gone Kayaking many times and never worn a vest! Yet, modern inflatable life vests are compact, easy to wear, and can save your life in the event of an emergency. And yet many experienced fishermen and boaters still avoid them. Let’s drop the bravado. Wearing a vest doesn’t mean you don’t know what you’re doing. It means you know how quickly things can go wrong.

Let This Be a Turning Point

We don’t know yet what happened aboard the Energy. And we will not speculate. What we do know is that the sea offers no guarantees, only opportunities to prepare, respect, and equip ourselves to survive the unknown.

To the families: we are with you. We hope. We wait. We believe.

And for all of us watching from shore, let this be more than hope and/or sorrow,  let it be a reminder to be ready, to be cautious, and to take nothing for granted

Until next Sunday, take care of one another , and if you’re heading out on the water, please take precautions. You can read all past columns and tune into the podcast now at www.lincolngomez.com.

See you next week.