US Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Lake Charles is carrying out a Marine Casualty Investigation in cooperation with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Law Enforcement Division to determine the cause of June 3rd vessel allision with a dredge pipeline operating on the Calcasieu River Ship Channel near Hackberry, La. The incident led to one loss of life and one injury.
The US Coast Guard closed the Calcasieu River Ship Channel, from two miles south of lighted aid 78 to two miles north of lighted aid 80, for six hours to support search and rescue operations. Search efforts were performed by the US Coast Guard, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Law Enforcement Division, and Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office Marine Enforcement Unit.
USCG encouraged the Southwest Louisiana boating community to be very cautious when transiting near areas where dredging operations are taking place. As Lt. William Hickey, Marine Safety Unit Lake Charles prevention department chief, said:
Boaters should be on the lookout for potential hazards and operate at a speed that allows them to detect and avoid hazards safely
The US Coast Guard also reminded vessel operators to have wearable USCG approved personal flotation devices (PFD) for each person onboard and suggests everyone to wear a life jacket while on board an operating vessel.
