The person at the center of this case
Mark Edmund Doughty
Missing Person · Open
25 years waiting · since 2001
Missing Person: Mark Edmund Doughty
Justice for Mark Edmund Doughty — the trail went cold in 2001, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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evidence
Lead #1Why was the captain the only survivor recovered? What search and rescue operations were conducted in the hours and days following the collision?
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witness
Lead #2Were there any other vessels in the area that may have witnessed the collision or conducted rescue operations?
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clue
Lead #3What was the final determination regarding the cause of the collision between the Starbound and the Virgo tanker?
Mark Edmund Doughty, a 33-year-old crew member of the fishing vessel Starbound, went missing on August 5, 2001, when the boat was struck by the Russian tanker Virgo approximately 130 miles off Cape Ann, Massachusetts. The Starbound sank within minutes of the collision, with Mark sleeping below deck at the time; the captain was the only survivor recovered. Despite extensive search efforts by the U.S. Coast Guard, Mark's fate remains unknown, and any information about potential survival or recovery efforts could help resolve this maritime tragedy.
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Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP51782. Missing person: Mark Edmund Doughty.
Last known contact: 2001-08-05 in Gloucester, Essex, MA. Circumstances: Mark was part of the Starbound fishing vessel crew.
They were 130 miles off Cape Ann, MA when their vessel was struck by the Virgo, a Russian tanker. The Starbound captain was the only survivor and stated the boat sank within a minute.
Mark was sleeping below deck when the collision occurred. Demographics: 33 years, Male, White / Caucasian.
Physical description: 5 ft 9 in, 200 lbs, hair: Brown, eyes: Brown. Investigating agency: United States Coast Guard | 981848 | 2001-08-05.
Timeline of Events
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2001-08-05
Starbound collision and sinking
Mark Edmund Doughty was aboard the fishing vessel Starbound when it was struck by the Russian tanker Virgo approximately 130 miles off Cape Ann. The Starbound sank within one minute. Mark was sleeping below deck at the time of collision.
Key Locations
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Case Information
Incident:August 5, 2001
Last Updated:June 24, 2026
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Phone: 2252985400
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Case Information
Incident:August 5, 2001
Last Updated:June 24, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 2252985400
You can remain anonymous