The US Coast Guard rescued nine people on February 24, from a rig on fire near Sabine Pass, Texas.
Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders received a notification from the dredging vessel Ohio that the Pride Wisconsin, a mobile offshore drilling unit, was on fire in Sabine Pass with nine people aboard.
Watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and launched a Coast Guard Station Sabine Pass 45-foot Response Boat–Medium crew and an Air Station Houston MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew to assist.
The Port Arthur Fire Department and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office also responded, all under the coordination of the Sector Houston-Galveston commander center personnel.
The Dolphin crew arrived on-scene, lowered a rescue swimmer and began hoisting the crewmembers. The Dolphin crew transported all nine crewmembers to a nearby rig, allowing the crewmembers to meet with emergency medical services personnel onshore.
No injuries were reported and there are no signs of pollution at this time.
The cause of the incident is under investigation.