Massachusetts officials are renewing calls for answers in the sinking of the F/V Lily Jean, this time asking the U.S. Navy to step in.

In a May 11 letter to Navy Secretary Hung Cao, Gov. Maura Healey and Sen. Bruce Tarr requested federal assistance to retrieve key equipment from the Gloucester-based vessel, which was lost with seven people aboard on Jan. 30, 2026.

According to the letter, Massachusetts State Police have received information indicating that a video recorder and hard drive aboard the vessel may still be intact. Officials say the system could contain footage from the vessel’s final moments and “provide essential details in the immediate moments before the ship was lost,” potentially aiding future safety recommendations.

The request follows the National Transportation Safety Board declining to lead and effort to recover the equipment despite earlier outreach from the governor’s office.

Healey and Tarr are now asking the Navy to use its resources and technical expertise to locate and retrieve the device, as well as to assess whether recovering the remains of the lost crew members is feasible, something they said would be done “in keeping with the wishes of each of their families.”

While acknowledging the risks and cost involved, the officials emphasized that recovering the equipment could help determine what led to the sinking, improve safety for future vessels, and provide long-awaited closure for families.