Two men were injured yesterday evening when a natural gas pipeline their Dive Support Vessel (DSV) was working on ruptured and caught fire some 25 miles south of Marsh Island, Louisiana, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received notification at 8:30 pm local time that a natural gas pipeline had ruptured and was on fire.
Sector New Orleans directed the launch of a HC-144 Ocean Sentry fixed-wing aircraft crew from Aviation Training Center Mobile to monitor the situation.
The DSV Ms. Kerci, operated by Houma-based C-Dive, was working on the pipeline at the time of the rupture. The two injured crew members aboard the vessel were escorted to Houma. The extent of their injuries is currently unknown.
The pipeline is reported to be extinguished, and the pipeline’s owner, Boardwalk/Gulf South Pipeline Co., is sending out a second vessel to repair the ruptured pipeline.
The cause of the incident is under investigation.