Coast Guard Dive Team Reaches Capsized Ship Off Louisiana; 1 Dead, 12 Missing

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USCG Heartland

NEW ORLEANS — The Coast Guard continues to search for 12 missing people Thursday from a capsized commercial lift boat 8 miles south of Port Fourchon. 1 person’s body has been recovered.

Coast Guard air and surface assets continued to search overnight, and the search will continue throughout the day. Coast Guard crews have searched for a combined 70 hours covering approximately 6,380 square miles, an area roughly the size of Hawaii.

Officials say dive teams made contact with the capsized boat Thursday and “knocked on the hull without hearing a response.”

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. Multiple good Samaritan vessels responded.

Although the incident occurred on rough seas, officials said, the cause remains under investigation.

The pre-commissioned Coast Guard Cutter Glenn Harris 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 boatcrew rescued another.

“Our rescue crews have been diligently continuing the search and rescue efforts for the missing people from the capsized vessel,” said Capt. Will Watson, commander of Coast Guard Sector New Orleans. “When it comes to search and rescue, each case is dynamic and no single case is the same as the next. Anytime our Coast Guard crews head out for search and rescue, it is always our hope to safely bring those people back and reunite them with their friends and families.”

 

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