NEW ORLEANS — The Coast Guard suspended the search for two missing crewmembers, Saturday at approximately 5:25 p.m., following a platform explosion approximately 20 miles southeast of Grand Isle.
Coast Guard crews searched a 1,400 square-mile area for more than 32 hours in an effort to locate the two missing crewmembers.
Coast Guard resources used in the search effort:
- The 87-foot Coast Guard Cutters Pelican and Razorbill;
- Three response boatcrews from Coast Guard Stations Grand Isle and Venice;
- Three HC-144 Ocean Sentry fixed-wing aircraft crews and three MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crews from Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile, Ala.;
- Two MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crews from Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans.
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement has established a team to investigate the explosion and fire. The seven-member investigative team includes safety inspectors, engineers, safety management investigators, and law enforcement experts. The investigation report will include recommendations for initiatives to prevent a similar accident in the future.
The search is suspended pending further developments.