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8th District Public Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard
News Release
Date: Nov. 16, 2012
U.S. Coast Guard Eighth District External Affairs
Contact: U.S. Coast Guard Heartland
Office: (618) 225-9008
Coast Guard searches for 2 missing crewmembers southeast of Grand Isle
NEW ORLEANS – Coast Guard crews are searching for two missing crewmembers following a platform explosion approximately 20 miles southeast of Grand Isle, Friday morning.
Eleven crewmembers have been medevaced from the Black Elk Energy-owned platform to various local hospitals. Nine additional crewmembers were safely evacuated off the platform. The fire has been extinguished, and a sheen has been spotted in the area.
The Coast Guard is currently searching with response boats from Coast Guard Stations Grand Isle and Venice, the 87-foot Coast Guard Cutters Pelican and Razorbill, an HC-144 Ocean Sentry fixed-wing aircraft crew and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Aviation Training Center Mobile, Ala., and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station New Orleans.
The cause of the incident is under investigation by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement and the Coast Guard will assist as needed.
For any additional information regarding the Black Elk Energy-owned platform, contact Leslie Hoffman at 281-513-0512.
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