A good Samaritan vessel helped the U.S. Coast Guard rescue 15 people from a lift boat that was taking on water early Monday morning off the Louisiana coast.
Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report at approximately 3:16 a.m. from the Ram XVIII, a 134-foot lift boat. The master of the Ram XVIII reported the vessel was without power about 23 nautical miles west of Southwest Pass and had a 45-degree list. The vessel was taking on water and wasn’t able to correct itself.
An urgent marine information broadcast was issued and a Coast Guard Station Grand Isle 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boatcrew was launched, as well as an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter air crew.
The Starfleet Guardian, an offshore support vessel reponded to the Coast Guard broadcast and rescued 6 people from the lift boat. The Station Grand Isle boatcrew rescued the other 9 people on the boat and transferred them to the Starfleet Guardian to be taken to shore.
While the vessel was taking on water, a steel tank filled with soap fell overboard and caused a navigation hazard. The vessel also had about 13,900 gallons of diesel onboard, but there were currently no reports of a leak.
The cause of the accident is under investigation, and a salvage company has been contracted to refloat the Ram XVII.
For more than 40 years, the Louisiana maritime attorneys at Lambert Zainey have been helping maritime workers protect their legal rights after on-the-job accidents. If you were injured while working in the maritime industry, contact us today to schedule a free consultation.