Louisiana ship capsize: Search for survivors from ‘lift’ vesselon April 14, 2021 at 8:50 am

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

Rescuers have so far saved six of the commercial ship’s reported 18 crew members from the water.

Commercial vessel, reportedly the Seacor Power, capsized

image copyrightUS Coast Guard

Rescuers are searching for the missing crew members of a large commercial vessel after it capsized off the US state of Louisiana.

There were reportedly 18 people on board, and on Wednesday the US Coast Guard said it had so far rescued six.

The 129ft (39m) lift boat capsized about eight miles (12km) from Port Fourchon on Tuesday afternoon.

A spokesman for marine transportation company Seacor Marine later identified the vessel as belonging to the firm.

A lift boat is a self-propelled vessel with an open deck, often using legs and jacks, and is deployed to support drilling or exploration.

Map

Seacor spokesman Armond Batiste told the New York Times that the ship was the Seacor Power.

In a statement, the US Coast Guard said it had received an emergency radio notification at 16:30 (21:30 GMT) that there was a distressed commercial vessel about eight miles from the coast.

It said an “urgent marine information broadcast” had been issued which “multiple good Samaritan boat crews responded to”.

Coast Guard rescue operation

image copyrightUS Coast Guard

Two Coast Guard ships rescued one person each, while civilian boat crews pulled another four people out of the water.

There are now four Coast Guard vessels, four civilian “good Samaritan” boats, and an Ocean Sentry sea aeroplane searching the water for the rest of the crew.

The National Weather Service’s New Orleans area head, Benjamin Schott, told NBC News that a “wake low” weather phenomenon on Tuesday afternoon caused winds of 70-80mph, which would have made the seas very rough.

While incidents are decreasing year-on-year, there are still dangers associated with commercial shipping.

According to the AGCS Safety and Shipping Review 2020, a total of 951 ships have been lost in the past 10 years – 15 of them in 2019.

One-third of ship losses in 2019 happened in South China, Indochina, the Philippines and Indonesia, the report added – describing this area as “the global hotspot”.

- Advertisement -

Discover

Sponsor

Latest

Mesothelioma Causes

There are many kinds of mesothelioma causes. This means that the causes could be different in various cases. The kinds include exposure to asbestos...

Javier Milei: New president tells Argentina ‘shock treatment’ loomson December 11, 2023 at 2:46 am

The country's new far-right president vows to launch a radical economic programme as he is sworn in.Image source, ReutersBy Sean SeddonBBC NewsArgentina's new far-right...

Church shortlists for senior posts ‘must include ethnic minorities’on April 22, 2021 at 12:31 am

Failing to act would have "devastating effects" on the future of the Church of England, a report says.image copyrightPA MediaAll shortlists for senior Church...

Katie Taylor defeats Chantelle Cameron to become two-weight undisputed champion in Dublinon November 25, 2023 at 11:33 pm

Ireland's Katie Taylor dethrones England's Chantelle Cameron to avenge her only career defeat in an extraordinary fight in Dublin.Ireland's Katie Taylor dethrones England's Chantelle...

NFL London: Jacksonville Jaguars beat Miami Dolphins 23-20 in thrilleron October 17, 2021 at 5:39 pm

Trevor Lawrence celebrates the first win of what could be a glittering NFL career after the Jacksonville Jaguars beat the Miami Dolphins in a...