'These guys were very experienced': Coast Guard searches for crew of sunken fishing boat off Massachusetts coast

The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for four fishermen after their boat sank early Monday along the Massachusetts coast.

The 82-foot fishing vessel, named Emmy Rose, disappeared about 20 miles northeast of Provincetown, the Coast Guard in Boston said on Twitter. So far, crews have found debris and an empty life raft.

The search team, hindered by 35 mph winds and 6- to 8-foot seas, includes three Coast Guard vessels and two aircraft.

Authorities received a notification from the boat's emergency beacon at 1 a.m., but the crew did not send a distress call. The boat's owner said no one was answering the vessel's satellite phone, the Coast Guard said.

Rink Varian, the ship's owner, told the Bangor Daily News on Monday that the group of men are experienced professionals.

“This is a horrific accident,” he told the newspaper. “I hope to God they find them. I just want to go on record saying this wasn’t because they weren’t an experienced crew. That wasn’t it. These guys were very experienced. They were the best.”

Emmy Rose is based in Portland, Maine.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coast Guard searches for missing boat, 4 fishermen off Massachusetts