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Hercules 265

Hercules 265

Photo: USCG
Photo: USCG

The Hercules 265 jack-up rig caught fire in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana.   The rig had recently been preparing the well for production when natural gas came flowing out of the well.  The natural gas caught fire a short time later developing into a large blaze.   The Hercules 265 suffered significant damage as the fire caused part of the rig to collapse.  The beams supporting the derrick and drilling rig floor have fallen over the rig structure.   The fire extinguished after sediment and sand clogged the well.   No reports of injuries on board as the 44 crew on board had escaped to the rig’s lifeboats when the natural gas began to spewing from the well. Photos of the area show that pollution had been released, but no reports on efforts to contain or clean-up the slick.    The Coast Guard has launched an investigation into the incident.


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Celeste Ann

Celeste Ann

Celeste Ann 1

The offshore supply vessel Celeste Ann collided with an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico near the mouth of the Mississippi River near Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana.  The Celeste Ann later sank.   The 4 crew and 19 passengers on board were able to be safely transferred to another nearby vessel.  No reports of injuries.  The rig was undamaged.   Some pollution was released with a gasoline sheen was spotted where the Celeste Ann sank.   A boom was deployed to contain the spill.   The cause of incident was not yet known.   The Coast Guard has launched an investigation into the incident.

 

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Katmai

Katmai

Katmai 1
Photo: USCG

The new fishing vessel Katmai departed Mobile, Alabama on Febuary 18, 1972.  The Katmai was brand new from the Bender Ship Building yard and was heading for a long trip to its new home port at Anchorage, Alaska.  On board was Captain Joos and a deckhand along with the Captain’s wife and eight-year old child.   After it left port, the vessel was never sighted again.   When it failed to arrive at the Panama Canal, it was presumed the vessel had sunk somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico.

Forty years later, the research vessel Falkor discovered an unknown sonar contact. The vessel sent down its ROV to investigate and found the sunken Katmai in 8,920 feet of water some 200 miles off the shore of Alabama.  A short investigation failed to provide any clues to why the vessel sank with all hands.

 

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