Seacor Marine liftboat capsizes in the Gulf of Mexico

Offshore staff

NEW ORLEANS – On Tuesday, Seacor Marine’s liftboat SEACOR Power capsized 8 mi (13 km) south of Port Fourchon, Louisiana.

According to the US Coast Guard, one person has died, six have been rescued, and search efforts continue for the remaining 12 crew members.

Coast Guard watchstanders received an emergency distress signal at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday from a commercial lift boat and then issued an urgent marine information broadcast (UMIB). Multiple good Samaritan vessels responded to the UMIB.

The pre-commissioned Coast Guard Cutter Glenn Harris, a 154-ft (47-m) fast response cutter, arrived on scene within 30 minutes and rescued one person from the water. Multiple good Samaritan vessels rescued four people and a Coast Guard Station Grand Isle 45-ft (14-m) response boat-medium boatcrew rescued another.

On Wednesday, Captain Will Watson, sector commander, Coast Guard sector New Orleans, said Seacor confirmed the 129-ft (39-m) liftboat departed Port Fourchon at 1:30 p.m. en route to Main Pass.

“At the time of the incident on scene weather conditions were challenging,” he said. “80-90 mile per hour winds, 7-9 ft [2-3 m] seas, and extremely limited visibility.”

He said current assets the on scene include a 145-ft [44-m] response boat, H-65 helicopter, 144-ft [44-m] fixed wing plane, and the 87-ft [27-m] Coast Guard cutter  Amberjack. Port Fourchon parish has a boat engaged too.

“We have been getting so many calls from folks in the maritime industry that want to get involved. It has been tremendous. Both on surface assets as well as their assets,” Captain Watson said. “They are wanting to get involved in the effort. We are happy to be coordinating with those folks. So, I want to say thank you to those folks personally.”

According to Captain Watson, the Seacor Power remains overturned on its starboard side, partially submerged and grounded in 55 ft (17 m) of water.

04/14/2021