MAY 31, 2015
NEW ORLEANS, LA
The Coast Guard is suspending its search for a missing
crewmember aboard a tow boat that sank Saturday near Convent, La.
Coast Guard Sector New Orleans watchstanders received a
report that the UTV Miss Natalie capsized and sank near mile marker 163 on the
lower Mississippi River around 8:00 a.m. with five people aboard.
Four people have been rescued and one person is missing. A
search and rescue operation is currently underway including efforts by Coast
Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew and Port of South
Louisiana divers as well as side scan sonar team.
Cmndr. Kelly Denning of Coast Guard Sector New Orleans
issued this statement,
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the missing
crewmember's family and friends. We appreciate all the support provided by our
state, local and industry partners in the search effort, especially the quick
response by the Port of South, La. Based on several eye witness accounts,
however, we have determined that the missing crewmember was onboard the vessel
when it sank. Pending further developments, we have decided to suspend the
active search."
Ryan Tippets, a Coast Guard spokesman, said four crew members were
rescued, but one was missing. He said none of the four rescued were
injured.
It was unclear as of late Saturday what caused the tugboat to sink.
Tippets said there were no reports of extreme river or weather
conditions in that area Saturday morning, and none of the crew had
reported any problems with the boat to the Coast Guard.
A Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew, divers and a sonar team
were deployed to assist in the search, the Coast Guard said.
The Coast Guard restricted use of the river from mile marker 158 to
mile marker 162 for most of the day to allow crews to search for the
missing person.
Tippets said they anticipated opening the river for one-way traffic
late Saturday, but he did not know what time that would occur. As of 7
p.m. Saturday, that portion of the river remained closed.
Tippets said there will be an investigation into what caused the
tugboat to sink, and he said the Coast Guard might be the investigating
agency, but he was unsure.
Salvage operations on the boat began Sunday morning.
Crewmembers on tugboats may be considered seamen under the terms of the Jones Act. This status may make them eligible for maintenance and cure payments, negligence claims, and other Jones Act rights.
Not every vessel worker qualifies. To be considered a seaman, you must meet these three criteria:
The seaman’s next of kin, which most often is a surviving spouse, children or parents, can seek recovery for loss of financial support and contribution, funeral expense, and other damages.
It is not uncommon for employers to deny a crewmembers Jones Act status. When this happens, it’s important to have help from an attorney who is experienced and skilled in maritime law to fight for your right to compensation.
If you are injured or a loved one killed in a maritime accident such as this weekend’s Mississippi River tugboat sinking, contact a maritime law firm to get help protecting your rights.
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Tugboat Crewmembers May Be Protected by Jones Act
The Jones Act is a federal maritime law that gives protections specifically to seamen like tugboat workers, who often face serious risk of injury or death at sea. Not every vessel worker qualifies as a Jones Act Seaman.Crewmembers on tugboats may be considered seamen under the terms of the Jones Act. This status may make them eligible for maintenance and cure payments, negligence claims, and other Jones Act rights.
Not every vessel worker qualifies. To be considered a seaman, you must meet these three criteria:
- You are assigned to a vessel at the time of the injury.
- The vessel must be in navigation.
- You contribute significantly to the vessel’s function.
The seaman’s next of kin, which most often is a surviving spouse, children or parents, can seek recovery for loss of financial support and contribution, funeral expense, and other damages.
It is not uncommon for employers to deny a crewmembers Jones Act status. When this happens, it’s important to have help from an attorney who is experienced and skilled in maritime law to fight for your right to compensation.
If you are injured or a loved one killed in a maritime accident such as this weekend’s Mississippi River tugboat sinking, contact a maritime law firm to get help protecting your rights.
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MISS NATALIE
Built in 1976, by Main Iron Works of Houma, Louisiana (hull
#298) as the Miss Natalie for the Fonteneau and Smith Boat Company of Morgan
City, Louisiana
the tug was built for work in the North Sea.
In 1978, F&S was acquired by Newpark Marine, a subsidiary of Newpark Resources. The company supplied chemicals to the oil drilling companies. In April or May of 1978, the purchase by Newpark was completed and the tug was renamed as the Newpark Sundial.
In 1983, she was acquired by the Gulf Fleet Marine Corporation of Houston, Texas. Where she was renamed as the Gulf Ruler.
Jackson Marine Corporation of Houston, Texas would later merge with Zapata Gulf Marine of Houston, Texas, as well as Gulf Fleet of Houston, Texas. The company became the largest shipping company in the world with a total of four hundred fifteen vessels. Tidewater Incorporated of New Orleans, Louisiana at that time had about two hundred seventy five vessels.
In the fall of 1986, Seahorse Marine of Lockport, Louisiana merged into Zapata Gulf Marine adding an additional ninety vessels to the fleet.
Seahorse Marine had been founded by the Arthur Levey family as Arthur Levey Boat Company after World War II. The company was later acquired by Petrolane Natural Gas of Belding, Mississippi. Where the company was renamed Seahorse Marine.
In 1985, Petrolane was acquired by Texas Eastern of Houston, Texas. Which was a larger natural gas company. However, in the fall of 1986, Texas Eastern traded the company to Zapata Gulf Marine for an exchange of stock.
On January 15th of 1992 Zapata Gulf Marine merged with Tidewater Marine of New Orleans, Louisiana.
In 2005, she was acquired by Roehrig Maritime of Staten Island, New York where she was renamed as the John H. Malik, named for Roehrig Maritime's first employee who passed away in 2001. Roehrig Maritime did an extensive renovation of the vessel that included the addition of an upper wheel house.
In 2007, Roehrig Maritime was acquired by K-Sea Transportation of East Brunswick, New Jersey. Where the tug was renamed as the Bismarck Sea.
In 2010, the tug was outfitted with a JAK coupler system, for service with K-Sea's 80,000 bbl and 100,000 bbl JAK equipped barges.
In 2011, K-Sea Transportation was acquired by the Kirby Corporation of Channelview, Texas. Where the tug retained her name.
She is a twin screw tug rated at 6,100 horsepower.
(Captain Eric Takakjian, Christopher Roehrig, Bruce Fizell)
the tug was built for work in the North Sea.
In 1978, F&S was acquired by Newpark Marine, a subsidiary of Newpark Resources. The company supplied chemicals to the oil drilling companies. In April or May of 1978, the purchase by Newpark was completed and the tug was renamed as the Newpark Sundial.
In 1983, she was acquired by the Gulf Fleet Marine Corporation of Houston, Texas. Where she was renamed as the Gulf Ruler.
Jackson Marine Corporation of Houston, Texas would later merge with Zapata Gulf Marine of Houston, Texas, as well as Gulf Fleet of Houston, Texas. The company became the largest shipping company in the world with a total of four hundred fifteen vessels. Tidewater Incorporated of New Orleans, Louisiana at that time had about two hundred seventy five vessels.
In the fall of 1986, Seahorse Marine of Lockport, Louisiana merged into Zapata Gulf Marine adding an additional ninety vessels to the fleet.
Seahorse Marine had been founded by the Arthur Levey family as Arthur Levey Boat Company after World War II. The company was later acquired by Petrolane Natural Gas of Belding, Mississippi. Where the company was renamed Seahorse Marine.
In 1985, Petrolane was acquired by Texas Eastern of Houston, Texas. Which was a larger natural gas company. However, in the fall of 1986, Texas Eastern traded the company to Zapata Gulf Marine for an exchange of stock.
On January 15th of 1992 Zapata Gulf Marine merged with Tidewater Marine of New Orleans, Louisiana.
In 2005, she was acquired by Roehrig Maritime of Staten Island, New York where she was renamed as the John H. Malik, named for Roehrig Maritime's first employee who passed away in 2001. Roehrig Maritime did an extensive renovation of the vessel that included the addition of an upper wheel house.
In 2007, Roehrig Maritime was acquired by K-Sea Transportation of East Brunswick, New Jersey. Where the tug was renamed as the Bismarck Sea.
In 2010, the tug was outfitted with a JAK coupler system, for service with K-Sea's 80,000 bbl and 100,000 bbl JAK equipped barges.
In 2011, K-Sea Transportation was acquired by the Kirby Corporation of Channelview, Texas. Where the tug retained her name.
She is a twin screw tug rated at 6,100 horsepower.
(Captain Eric Takakjian, Christopher Roehrig, Bruce Fizell)