The United States Coast Guard has suspended its search for a worker missing from an offshore oilfield supply boat. The USCG has been searching for the man for 3 days in an area covering 2,734 square nautical miles in the Gulf of Mexico. During the 3-day search there were 12 separate search missions. They deployed many helicopters, cutters, and aircraft to aid in the search efforts, but they turned up empty.
The missing man, whose name has not been released, reportedly fell overboard off the Dustin Danos, a ship operated by Gulf Offshore Logistics. The man was reported overboard on Saturday, November 9, about 60 miles southwest of Port Fourchon. The company has not responded to requests for comments on the incident.
In a separate incident just two weeks ago, another oilfield worker was lost in the water. The man worked for Offshore Specialty Fabricators and fell from a platform about 75 miles southeast of Lake Charles. The man’s body was recovered the next day by divers. The man was part of a company that was contracted to dismantle that particular platform because it was no longer in use.
According to reports, the man in that accident was knocked off the platform by an empty storage tank that also fell into the water. The man’s body was found pinned under the tank, about 100 feet under the water. The USCG reported that there was no oil spill due to the accident because the tank was no longer in use and was plugged.
Accidents such as these require consultation with an experienced Houston maritime lawyer. The attorney will review the details of the accident and work with the family to take appropriate legal action. A Houston maritime lawyer will explain the Jones Act and review the maritime laws that apply in the situation. Contact a Houston maritime lawyer to determine your options.
