The Coast Guard has suspended its search for a person in the water south of Marsh Island, La. The agency searched 3,753 nautical miles for approximately 98 hours for a missing person in the water who was aboard the tug Crosby Commander.

The Coast Guard and good Samaritans were still searching for a person who went in the water approximately 30 nautical miles south of Marsh Island, La., on May 29. (Marsh Island is located between Vermillion Bay and the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana.) Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report at approximately 5 a.m. Monday of the tug vessel Crosby Commander taking on water with four people aboard. Three people were able to evacuate to a life raft before the vessel sank.

One crewmember went missing. The survivors in the life raft were rescued by the good Samaritan motor vessel Andi Nicole. The survivors were rescued in good condition with no medical concerns. The Coast Guard had no photos or video of the scene available.

Involved in the search were:

  • Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile HC-144 Ocean Sentry fixed-wing aircrew
  • Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew
  • Coast Guard Cutter Razorbill
  • Coast Guard Cutter Skipjack
  • Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant
  • Motor vessel Andi Nicole
  • Motor vessel GIS Christina
  • Motor vessel Dustin Danos
  • Motor vessel Son River
  • Tug vessel Crosby Trinity
  • Tug vessel Crosby Trojan
  • Commercial helicopter from Eugene Island Block 158

The cause of the incident is under investigation.


This story was originally published on May 30, 2017, and updated with new information on June 2 and June 6, 2017.