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Posted in Jones Act,Louisiana Maritime News,Maritime Accidents,US Coast Guard (USCG) on June 21, 2013
PLAQUEMINES PARISH, La. — The coast Guard reported that four crew members and 19 passengers were safely transferred to a nearby boat after a Galliano-based offshore supply boat struck an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico Friday morning, June 14, and sank.
Photo shows the bow of the Celeste Ann pointing toward the sky as the vessel sank into the calm waters. The ship belongs to B&J Martin of Galliano. Photo Credit: WDSU.com
Coast Guard spokesman Carlos Vega said, “There were no injures. Everyone was rescued”
According to an article at DailyComet.com
The accident occurred Shortly after 9:15 a.m. on June 14, when B&J Martin Inc.’s boat the Celeste Ann hit the oil platform about 15 miles west of Southwest Pass near the mouth of the Mississippi River in Plaquemines Parish, Vega said.
There was no initial indication why the accident happened, he said. The Coast Guard and other agencies are investigating it.
Vega said the Coast Guard checked out the wreck but didn’t do any search and rescue.
It later flew over the site to check out a gasoline sheen that measured a half mile by 150 feet. The company used boom to contain spill from the vessel.
Nobody was injured on the platform, which also didn’t receive much damage, Vega said.
B&J Martin plans to hire a company to recover its vessel, Vega told the media.
Company spokesman Jimmie Martin told The Associated Press all passengers aboard the vessel were offshore workers.
Martin declined to identify the operator of the platform. He couldn’t be reached for comment Friday night.
If the boat isn’t recovered and remains at the bottom of the Gulf, Vega said, it would have to be reported as a waterway hazard because of the fuel it contains.
B&J Martin has owned and operated supply, utility and fishing vessels in the Gulf for more than 30 years.
Blog post by Louisiana maritime lawyer, Gordon, Elias & Seely.