MOBILE, Ala. — The Coast Guard suspended its search for a missing shipyard employee after a cruise ship broke loose from a pier on the Mobile River, Wednesday.
Coast Guard and Mobile Police and Sheriff’s Office search-and-rescue crews searched for approximately 15 hours with more than 15 boats and aircraft in an effort to locate the missing BAE Systems employee.
The tug vessel New Wednesday and four additional tugs guided the Carnival Triumph safely back to a pier at the Alabama Cruise Ship Terminal to resume repairs.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Mobile received a report at approximately 1:45 p.m. that a BAE Systems employee became missing after the Carnival Triumph broke free from its moorings while at the pier at the BAE shipyard. The missing employee was reported as a 64-year-old male. One other BAE employee was recovered safely.
Joint Coast Guard and Mobile Police and Sheriff’s Office first responder crews searched a three square-mile area near the mouth of the Mobile River with the following resources:
One Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew;
Two Coast Guard Station Dauphin Island boatcrews;
Two Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team Mobile boatcrews;
Alabama Marine Resources;
Three Mobile County Sheriff’s Office flotillas;
Two Mobile Police Department boatcrews;
One Mobile Police helicopter;
Four tug boats.
“This is a truly tragic case that occurred due to severe weather. It is always extremely difficult to suspend a search when a person is still missing,” said Capt. Ed Cubanski, chief of response, 8th Coast Guard District. Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of the missing man during this difficult time. Fifteen different boat and aircrews completed multiple search patterns covering the confined area near the pier and did not locate the missing person.”
The search is suspended pending further developments.
The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the incident.
The Carnival Triumph and the motor vessel Wheeler moor at the Signal International shipyard after the two vessels collided on the Mobile River, April 3, 2013. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
A tug vessel pushes the Carnival Triumph to moor at the Signal International shipyard on the Mobile River, April 3, 2013. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
