Research Vessel ODYSSEY VOYAGER Burns in Gulf of Mexico

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued 40 persons from a research vessel off the Louisiana coast on Friday evening, after the vessel sent out a distress signal. The flames, which were extinguished on Saturday, reportedly started in the ship’s engine room. A Coast Guard spokesperson reported that the fire was out by about 1300 hours and that a safety zone around the vessel had been cancelled.

The fire occurred on board the ODYSSEY VOYAGER, a 175-foot research vessel, about 10 miles off the coast of Louisiana. Crew members suffered were two minor injuries while fighting the fire. Both individuals were airlifted to a hospital, treated and released. The balance of the crew was taken to Fourchon, Coast guard officials said.

Coast Guard personnel had originally intended to board the ship Sunday to investigate the cause of the blaze, but they decided to delay that boarding until after the vessels had cooled off. Reportedly, the vessel’s owners performed their own inspections over the weekend.

According to Senior Inspector Cheri’ Ben-Iesau of Coast Guard Sector New Orleans, the vessel remained offshore Louisiana yesterday. Plans were underway by private contractors, already on scene, to tow the vessel “dead-ship” to Fourchon, where it would be boarded by Coast guard investigators. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.