Four workers who evacuated a burning oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico early Thursday morning were picked up by Delta Marine Logistics' 150’x36’x12' offshore supply vessel Mary Wyatt Milano.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans were notified at approximately 2:30 a.m. that a fire had broken out on Renaissance Offshore LLC oil production platform, Ship Shoal 266, located approximately 80 miles south of Grand Isle, La. Watchstanders directed the launch of an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew from Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile, Ala., to conduct an over flight.
The OSV Mary Wyatt Milano. Delta Marine Logistics photo.
According to a statement from Renaissance Offshore, the four workers aboard the platform initially tried to extinguish the fire, but ultimately decided to abandon the platform due to heavy smoke, evacuating into a life raft. All were recovered by the Mary Wyatt Milano with no injuries reported, the Coast Guard said. Four OSVs, including the Mary Wyatt Milano, assisted in fighting the fire. Clean Gulf, an oil spill response organization, was dispatched to the platform.
Renaissance officials said the fire was extinguished by 5:50 a.m. and that company representatives and personnel from the the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement boarded the platform at 1:45 p.m. and confirmed that the ignition source was extinguished and all hydrocarbons were secure.
The Coast Guard is investigating.
Delta Marine Logistics is based in Metarie, La., while Renaissance Offshore maintains its headquarters in Houston.
