Firefighters called off a search for an overdue boater in the Keehi Lagoon area about 10:15 last night after failing to find the vessel.

It is believed the boat was one of several that went out of the harbor yesterday morning to avoid tsunami damage. Several boats were still out there, and firefighters were trying to identify the boat, which was believed to be anchored outside the harbor.

Efforts to contact the owner of the white, 40-foot sailboat Feala were unsuccessful and it’s believed his cellular phone likely ran out of battery power, said Honolulu fire Capt. Earle Kealoha.

Firefighters received a call about 9:20 p.m. from a person who last spoke with the boater about 7 p.m. and could no longer reach the boater by phone, Kealoha said.

Firefighters launched a helicopter and a fire boat.

Unless HFD gets other information, the assumption now is that the boater anchored somewhere and went ashore, he said.