The Seacor liftboat that capsized in stormy weather last week, has so far left four crew members dead and nine missing off the Louisiana coast. Six crew members have been rescued alive.
“Our deepest sympathy goes out to the family, friends, and loved ones of everyone involved in this tragic incident,” said Capt. Will Watson, commander of Coast Guard Sector New Orleans. “We are using every asset available to us to continue our search efforts.” Rescue teams, including divers, are working around the clock but rough weather is hampering their search efforts.
The Seacor Power capsized just miles away from Port Fourchon. The liftboat was en route to deliver equipment to an oil platform near the mouth of the Mississippi River when it encountered tropical storm-force winds and “suddenly higher waves.”
A Talos Energy Inc., the company that commissioned the Seacor Power to work at one of its Gulf of Mexico oil platforms, statement said the vessel’s owner, Houston-based Seacor Marine, made the decision to depart Port Fourchon for a Talos platform near the mouth of the Mississippi River.
“The Seacor Power was in port for service and inspections for several days prior to its departure,” Talos said in a statement provided by Brian Grove, an external spokesman for the company.
The initial investigation into how the jack-up vessel turned over is focusing on the weather conditions and communications between the captain and any others involved in making the decision to leave port, said a spokesman for the National Transportation Safety Board, who is assisting the Coast Guard and might take over the investigation.
