Contract divers have located the fishing vessel Kelli J sunken in Willapa Bay about three miles northwest of Oysterville, “but the location of the vessel operator is still unknown,” according to a Tweet from the U.S. Coast Guard sent at about 6 p.m. Wednesday.

The search for the Kelli J and its operator, Kevin Soule, began May 19 when he was reported by his wife to be several hours late getting home after heading out to set crab pots that morning.

On Tuesday afternoon, a boat crew contracted by Soule’s insurance company believed they had found the Kelli J sunken in about 40 feet of water, but conditions would not allow dive teams to get to the object to positively identify it. They were finally able to do so later on Wednesday.

Willapa Bay is subject to very strong tidal currents, which complicated the search for the vessel and Soule. Searchers suspended the search for Soule earlier in the week.