In this file photo, vessels used to store oil are piling up off the coast as the cost of oil plummets. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard.

The search for a man who reportedly jumped or fell off a Catalina Express ferry Thursday evening continued throughout the night and Friday morning, authorities said.

U.S. Coast Guard Petty officer Richard Brahm said the search would continue throughout the day Friday until about 7 p.m. Helicopters and boats covered approximately 130 square-nautical miles during the search between Thursday night and Friday morning.

Brahm said the missing man was last seen wearing a white hoodie when he went into the water.

As of Friday morning, Long Beach fire crews were being pulled back from the search as the U.S. Coast Guard was tasked with taking the lead on the search operation, Long Beach fire spokesman Brian Fisk said.

The multi-agency search immediately launched air and sea vessels to conduct the search Thursday after 6 p.m. Authorities originally said the man had jumped off the boat, however as of Friday, they could not confirm that.

Fisk said the ferry’s onboard crew immediately began their man-overboard protocols when the man fell into the water and threw a life ring floatation device where he was last seen.

The man’s grandmother told KTLA5 early Friday afternoon from the Catalina Express dock area that her grandson was with his girlfriend, and they were on their way to Santa Catalina Island when he went overboard about 40 minutes into the journey.

“He was calling for help but the boat was going too fast,” Sandra Freedman said. “They tried to come back and get him, but he was gone.

“I don’t know why they were going to Catalina. I just know they were on the boat and then he dived over…. I’m not sure why he dived over, but I know he wasn’t committing suicide because he came up and … other people said he was waving to get help, so that’s not what someone does when they commit suicide,” she said.

Freedman said her grandson, Keion, lives with her father in the Inland Empire.

“Every time he saw me, he would say I love you grandmommy and always hugging me. He was just a sweet person. It would take a lot to make him angry. He was a sweet young man,” Freedman said.

“We’re still hoping that … maybe he hung onto a buoy or something. So our hope is that they find him and that he’s OK.” The man’s younger sister said, “He was my best friend and we miss him and we just want him to be safe.”

City News Service contributed to this report.

Crews search for man who reportedly jumped off Catalina Express ferry, authorities say