NEW FOR MONDAY: Search For Missing Boaters Continues

OCEAN CITY — A massive search for two missing boaters who left Ocean City early Saturday morning and did not arrive as scheduled at Chincoteague later in the day continues with the effort expanding from New Jersey to North Carolina.

Brothers Michael Bramlett, 51, and Donald Bramlett, 54, left Ocean City early Saturday morning in the 38-foot “Reel Fun” sportfishing boat and were headed to Chincoteague. The Bramlett’s reportedly purchased the boat recently in New Jersey and were in the process of moving it to Florida. Around 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, Michael Bramlett’s wife contacted Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads after the “Reel Fun” did not arrive in Chincoteague on Saturday evening as planned.

The Coast Guard issued an urgent marine information broadcast and diverted the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter “Mako”, an 87-foot patrol boat based in Cape May to the area to begin a massive search. Initially, the search focused on the area between Ocean City and Chincoteague where the vessel was traveling. By Monday, the search had been expanded to a vast section of between Cape May to North Carolina.

Anyone with information about the overdue boaters are encouraged to contact the Coast Guard Command Center at 757-483-8567.