Maritime News

Two Vessels Collide In Gulf of Mexico; Three Missing

Posted on May 23, 2011

Working offshore is dangerous. The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for three people who are missing after two vessels collided in the Gulf of Mexico.

The maritime accident occurred at about 8:45 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18 in the Gulf of Mexico, near Cat and Ship Islands about 8 miles off the coast of Gulfport, Mississippi. The three men were aboard the Sandy Point, a 163-foot fishing vessel. The fishing boat that with the Eurus London, a 660-foot container ship.

The fishing boat sank in about 25 feet of water after hitting the larger container ship. It had 16 people aboard; thirteen were rescued. A pilot boat recovered 11 fishermen and took them to the fishing vessel Frosty Morn. Two others made it to the Eurus London on their own. Three crew members are still missing. Search and rescue efforts are underway to find the seamen.

Update May 23: The bodies of the three missing men were found over the weekend. Autopsies show that all three men drowned. The maritime attorney at The Young Firm would like to offer our condolences to the families of Rhoderick Watkins, Thomas L. Moore, and Lindsey Tucker. We are very sorry for your loss.