Search Called Off for Missing ‘Crosby Commander’ Crew Member

The U.S. Coast Guard on Thursday suspended its search for the missing crew member of the Crosby Commander tugboat, which sank Monday in the Gulf of Mexico off Marsh Island, Lousiana.

The Coast Guard said the search covered 3,753 square nautical miles and lasted approximately 98 hours before it was suspended. 

As we reported previously, Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report Monday at approximately 5:00 a.m. of the Crosby Commander taking on water with four people aboard. Three of the four people were able to evacuate to a life raft before the vessel sank. One crew member remained missing.  

The survivors were rescued by the motor vessel Andi Nicole and reported in good condition.

The 85-foot Crosby Commander was built in 1978 and belongs to Crosby Tugs, LLC, headquartered in Galliano, Louisiana.

The cause of the incident is under investigation.

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 Son River
• Tug vessel Crosby Trinity
• Tug vessel Crosby Trojan
• Commercial helicopter from Eugene Island Block 158

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