Coast Guard, good Samaritans rescue 41 from Collapsed Rig
By PA3 Tara M. Mitchell, Eighth Coast Guard District
On a day when the nation was remembering one of the worst tragedies of our time, the U.S. Coast Guard was called upon to prevent the day from being scarred further for several families.
While on a routine flight about 3:15 p.m. Sept. 11, a Coast Guard Falcon jet crew heard a radio call, from a crewman aboard a vessel in the area, stating a rig was collapsing about five miles east of the Chandeleur Islands, 28 miles south of Horn Island, Miss.
The Coast Guard launched three helicopters from Air Station New Orleans that were ultimately used in the rescue of the 41 workers from the overturned drilling unit, the Parker 14J.
Three good Samaritans and a rescue boat crew from Coast Guard Station Gulfport also assisted in the rescue.
“It was pretty amazing; the civilian boats were key to the outcome of this case. The team effort got it done,” said Cmdr. Scott A. Kitchen, Coast Guard pilot. “Everyone involved made this rescue what it is…a success.”
The initial report was that six people were in the water. Later reports confirmed 39 people were in the water. When Coast Guard rescue crews arrived on scene, the three commercial vessels had rescued many of the rig workers. Two injured men remained aboard the rig.
In order to overcome the largest obstacle of this rescue, communication, the Falcon jet crew took control of all radio traffic, said Kitchen.
“This helped us get an accurate head count and status report, which was really important in ensuring that everyone was safe,” said Kitchen.
Unsure of the rigs stability, Coast Guard rescue swimmers Maximo Mida and Andy Kennedy were lowered to the nearby supply vessel, the Elsie D, to assist the injured people onboard, while the helicopter crew checked the stability.
Petty Officers Mida and Kennedy helped determine which injuries were the most severe and helped the injured people into the rescue baskets of the waiting helicopters to be transported to local emergency medical services for treatment, said Mida.
A radio was lowered to the two remaining people on the rig instead of putting more people on the rig for the safety of all involved, said Kitchen.
The hoist from the rig to the helicopter was conducted at a higher altitude than usual because the rescue crew was still unsure about the safety of the rig. Not wanting to get too close to the rig, the pilot used the crane on the rig as a reference point and flew the helicopter just above the crane as a safety precaution.
“It was unclear if the wind from the helicopter would cause the rig to shift or collapse and become fully submerged,” said Kitchen.
The crews of the Elsie D, the Brazos Express and the David McCall took the uninjured persons to Venice, La, where personnel from Parker USA Drilling Co. waited. The rescued people were taken to nearby hotels.
The injured persons were transported by helicopter to Gulfport Regional Airport and transferred by ambulance to nearby hospitals. All injuries were reported to be minor to moderate. The injured people were all released by Sept. 12, said Rose Bratton, a Parker spokesperson.
Injured in the accident were: Walter Hanelly, William Martin, Ricky Norman, Billy Shaw, Lloyd Taylor, Ken Theriot, Jimmy Troquille and James Wilbert.
The three vessels on-scene and cooperation were the key to the success of this rescue, said Kitchen.
“Because working in life jackets would make the jobs very difficult, Parker USA Drilling Co. conducts weekly safety drills on all their rigs to remind their employees where the life jackets are stored and where to muster should an accident occur”, said Bratton.
Almost everyone was wearing life jackets when rescue crews arrived and that definitely helped save lives, said Kitchen.
Coast Guard Marine Safety Office New Orleans continues to investigate the cause of the accident.
Parker USA Drilling Co. contracted a company to begin salvage operations. “Laredo Construction Co. submitted a salvage plan that has been approved by the Coast Guard,” said Lt. Cmdr. Kim Croke of the MSO.
Due to technical problems, the salvage is going slower than anticipated. The salvage plan includes lowering the legs of the rig in an effort not to destroy the rig, said Croke.
The Coast Guard is still monitoring the rig, which at this time is not in danger of capsizing.
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