Tug Crosby Commander Sinks in Gulf of Mexico; One Missing, Three Rescued

Crosby Commander. Photo credit: Cosby Tugs, LLC

Update Tuesday, 0950 CDT, 31 May 2017: We just got off the phone with U.S. Coast Guard Eighth District office in New Orleans and we were told there are no updates from information provided Monday regarding the status missing crew member of the Crosby Commander tug and SAR efforts. Updates to follow as new information becomes available. 

Monday, 30 May 2017: One person is missing and three others have been rescued after a Crosby Tugs tugboat sank in the Gulf of Mexico off Louisiana on Monday.

The U.S. Coast Guard said it was searching along with good Samaritan vessels for a person in the water approximately 30 nautical miles south of Marsh Island.

Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report at approximately 5 a.m. 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 is 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 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

Coast Guard assets and vessels involved in the search include:

• 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