The U.S. Coast Guard says 6 of the 19 people on board a commercial vessel has been rescued after their liftboat capsized seven miles south of Port Fourchon Tuesday afternoon.
U.S. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans Commander Capt. Will Watson confirms to news media outlets that 19 people were aboard the lift boat named Seacor Power when rough conditions caused the vessel to capsize.
"Unfortunately we recovered one individual from the surface of the water, deceased, and the search effort continues for the remaining 12," said Capt. Watson.
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The Coast Guard says watchstanders received an emergency distress call at 4:30 p.m. from a 129-foot commercial liftboat. The watchstanders issued an urgent marine broadcast, to other boats in the area which multiple good Samaritan boat crews responded to and helped in the rescue of the capsized boat.
Capt. Watson says at the time the vessel capsized there were 80 to 90 mile per hour winds and 7 to 9 foot seas. He says the vessel is not drifting and search and rescue efforts are working their way outward from the boats last known location.
Capt. Watson says the investigation into why the vessel was out in such rough conditions is ongoing. "we are focused on the search and rescue effort more than anything right but those details will come out in the days and weeks ahead as we learn more about what went on," said Capt. Watson. "That information remains under investigation.
Capt. Watson says Coast Guard rescue crews remain hopeful they will find the remaining missing people. "We are one day, approximately into this operation, and we are giving it all we got," said Capt. Watson.
