The US Coast Guard has ended its search for the eight crew of capsized liftship Seacor Power (IMO 8765682).
A six-day search for the crew, which involved several USCG boat and air crews, local agency crews and good Samaritans, ended on the evening of Monday April 19th.
The search covered more than 9,200 sq/nm.
Seacor Power capsized with 19 crewmembers aboard during the afternoon of April 13th, about eight miles south of Port Fourchon, Louisiana.
Six survivors were rescued on the first day of the search, soon after the liftboat capsized. The bodies of five more crewmembers were later recovered.
Captain Will Watson, commander of Coast Guard Sector New Orleans, said: “We extend our appreciation to everyone who volunteered to assist during the search effort. Suspending a search is one of the toughest decisions the Coast Guard has to make”.
Seacor Marine has hired New Jersey-based Donjon Marine for dive and salvage operations.
The liftboat (jack barge), has three extendable 250-foot legs that can reach the sea floor and two 185-ton cranes. The vessel is often used by energy companies for offshore construction projects or to service oil rigs.
The incident has been declared a major marine casualty, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has joined the USCG-led investigation.
2002-built, USA-flagged, 2,276 gt Seacor Power is owned by Falcon Global Offshore II LLC care of manager Seacor Liftboats LLC of Louisiana, USA. ISM manager is Seacor Marine LLC of Morgan City, Louisiana, USA. It is entered with Skuld (Business Unit Skuld Offshore) on behalf of Falcon Global Holdings LLC.