SEACOR Marine Lift boat Capsizes. Our Texas & Louisiana Boating Accident Lawyers Explain What Happened.

A SEACOR Marine liftboat capsized eight miles off Port Fourchon, Louisiana, involving the 129-foot SEACOR Power, leaving a dozen people missing out of the 18 people originally on board on Tuesday, April 13, 2021. Coast Guard crews and good samaritan vessels are actively working to recover any and all of the passengers. While six people have been rescued, that is less than half of the passengers on board. The latest update to the recovery of missing passengers has been reported early Wednesday morning, several hours after the capsizing.

A special marine warning was issued on Tuesday from the National Weather Service in New Orleans. This alert warned mariners and should have warned SEACOR of the storm that was causing steep waves from Port Fourchon to Lower Atchafalaya River, Louisiana. The storm caused severe weather, with wind gusts upwards of 60 miles per hour and several inches of rain.

SEACOR Marine is a Houston-based marine transportation company that focuses on providing transport support services for offshore energy facilities worldwide. The lift boat that SEACOR Marine was using was likely a typical lift boat that is a self-propelled and self-elevating barge-like vessel that is used for various maritime and offshore jobs for the oil and gas industry. They are dangerous, especially when used in inclement weather.

At VB Attorneys, we have a track record of success when advocating on behalf of those injured in maritime accidents. In 2011, we were called upon to help out in a similar situation. A lift boat owned by the Louisiana company Trinity Liftboats capsized in the Bay of Campeche on September 8, 2011, during Tropical Storm Nate. Several crewmembers, including employees of Trinity Liftboats and Houston-based Geokinetics, were forced to evacuate the vessel and fight for their lives at sea using nothing but a small cork raft. We were hired by the surviving families of two of the workers who perished, as well as by several of the workers who survived. After extensive legal work and negotiations, our maritime lawyers secured out-of-court settlements for our clients and their families.

As experienced Jones Act and maritime lawyers, we understand the severity of this incident. We have experience working with victims of maritime injuries and their families to ensure that they are cared for. If you are in need of a knowledgeable maritime lawyer, contact us today. We hold negligent parties accountable for their actions. Our boat accident lawyers will work with you to determine the best course of action for the circumstances that led to your injuries.

Resources Detailing the Accident:

• Search operations continue for 12 people still missing from capsized ship off Louisiana coast
• Coast Guard: 2 more capsize victims recovered off Louisiana