emrgency medical services personnel treat a crewmember from the research vessel Seaprobe at Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile following an airlift approximately 141 miles off the coast of Pensacola, Fla., Jan. 18, 2013. U.S. Coast Guard photo
Two U.S. Coast Guard aircrews on Friday rescued 12 crewmembers from a capsized research vessel off the coast of Pensacola, Florida in the Gulf of Mexico.
The 8th Coast Guard District received a distress call from an EPIRB from the 170-foot R/V Seaprobe approximately 141 miles south of Pensacola. The Coast Guard says that a crewmember reported they were taking on water and unable to keep up with the flooding, which eventually forced the 12 crewmembers to abandon ship in three life rafts.
The Guard Guard dispatched an aircraft from Mobile, Ala., which arrived on scene and remained there until helicopter rescue crews arrived. The Coast Guard says that an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Mobile airlifted five crewmembers while another Jayhawk crew from Clearwater, Fla., launched and hoisted the remaining seven. All crewmembers were accounted for.
“When we arrived on scene we saw the hull sticking out of the water, and about a mile away, 12 crewmembers were on three life rafts tied together; our rescue swimmer assisted five into the hoist basket,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert McDonald, ATC Mobile flight mechanic. “They were covered in diesel fuel and extremely cold, but every one of them was wearing a life jacket.”
The Seaprobe crewmembers were brought to ATC Mobile for medical treatment and EMS transported three with injuries to Providence Hospital in Mobile, while the remaining nine were reported as stable.
The Seaprobe was built as a supply boat in 1974 at Burton Shipyard in Port Arthur, TX.
The cause of the incident is under investigation.
gCaptain Forum Discussion: R/V Seaprobe Sinking
Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.
Join the 110,496 members that receive our newsletter.
Have a news tip? Let us know.
By Captain John Konrad (gCaptain) As another intense storm barrels down upon us—this time Milton, a hurricane of record-breaking intensity heading directly for Florida—it’s time to confront a harsh reality:...
By Malte Humpert (gCaptain) – China and Russia continue to step up their patrol activity in the Arctic. A week after the U.S. Coast Guard reported sighting Chinese and Russian...
By Malte Humpert (gCaptain) – Two and a half months after suffering from an engine room fire, the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker Healy is back in action. The vessel set...
Access exclusive insights, engage in vibrant discussions, and gain perspectives from our CEO.
Sign Up
Maritime and offshore news trusted by our 110,496 members delivered daily straight to your inbox.
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Sign Up
Join The Club
