USCG advises boaters to wear lifejackets and carry flares
26/04/2021
Following the rescue of some crew members from a capsized rig off Louisiana, a US Coast Guard has advised all boaters to wear lifejackets and carry safety devices, including flares.
Four crew members from the capsized jack-up rig Seacor Power were rescued by a Good Samaritan vessel in mid-April. Another two were rescued by United States Coast Guards.
Following the incident, eight miles off the coast of Lafourche Parish, 13 other crew members are dead or missing at the time of writing.
A jack-up boat is a barge fitted with long support legs that can be raised or lowered. Once in position, the legs are jacked down onto the seafloor.
Coast Guard Lt. John Edwards, says, “The Coast Guard encourages all boaters to wear lifejackets while on the water. The maritime environment is inherently dangerous and having proper life-saving equipment on board, such as life jackets and signalling devices like flares, improvise the possibility that a boater can survive an incident on the water and assists rescuers in being able to spot you easier during search operations.”
Seacor Power capsized during a storm the generated strong winds and waves. In the dark, Seacor Power rescuers spotted a small craft and multiple life jackets in the water.
The image is a U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Coast Guard Cutter Glenn Harris.
