State’s Appeal to Navy for Lily Jean Salvage Hits a Roadblock

It’s hard to put a timeline on grief, but for the families of the seven crew members who perished when the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean went down in January, the clock is ticking louder than ever. The boat, a modest cutter that braved the icy waters off Cape Ann, vanished with all hands on board, leaving a hole in the Gloucester community that has never quite healed.

In May, Governor Maura Healey, joined by State Senator Bruce Tarr, drafted a formal letter to Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao. The missive asked the Navy to weigh in on whether a salvage operation could safely retrieve the bodies and valuable equipment resting about 320 feet beneath the Atlantic. “We understand the risk and the cost,” the governor wrote, “but we believe it’s a worthwhile investment for the families, for future safety, and for the maritime heritage of our state.”

At the time, Tarr sounded confident that a reply would come within days. Fast‑forward to late July, and the picture looks very different. After repeated follow‑ups by NewsCenter 5, a Navy spokesperson finally said the ball is now in Massachusetts’ court. “The Department of the Navy has informed state officials of the process for requesting salvage support. To date, no formal request has been received,” the official told reporters.

The governor’s office, however, paints a slightly different picture. Spokesperson Karissa Hand told us that the administration is still waiting on a response from the Navy, and that they remain hopeful the request will be approved. “Governor Healey remains deeply committed to providing answers for the loved ones of those lost on the F/V Lily Jean,” Hand added, emphasizing that the state is exploring every other avenue to bring closure.

To date, only one body – that of a crew member recovered shortly after the sinking – has been brought to shore. The remaining six lie untouched on the seafloor, a somber reminder of the ocean’s relentless grip. Some families have voiced a desire to let nature take its course, while others, like Tiffany Leigh, girlfriend of crewman Freeman Short, are pleading for any chance at a proper burial. “These were hardworking people providing for their families. We owe it to them to bring them back,” she said, her voice cracking with emotion.

What’s clear is that bureaucracy, whether it’s a missing paperwork tick or a procedural snag, is now the biggest obstacle between the families and the possibility of closure. The state has outlined the steps needed to request naval assistance, but until that formal request lands on a Navy desk, the operation remains in limbo.

As the summer sun warms the Cape Ann shoreline, the cold reality beneath the waves stays unchanged. The families wait, the officials wait, and the Navy’s next move remains an unanswered question that could determine whether the Lily Jean’s crew ever see their final rest on land.