‘Good Samaritan’ aids crew in GoM

A maritime service firm’s vessel rescued four people from the crew boat of GIS Leonce, owned by Cut Off-based GIS Marine, in the Gulf of Mexico after midnight March 19 after the boat's engine caught fire. Coast Guard Lt. Lucas Mancini, based at the Morgan City, La., Marine Safety Unit, said the 113-foot Leonce was about 20 miles south of Port Fourchon, La., and returning to shore when its fire occurred. The cause is under investigation. The "Good Samaritan" vessel, Nicki Candies of Otto Candies LLC based in Des Allemands, La., helped get passengers off the boat and put the fire out. Lt. Mancini noted engine fires are more common as commercial and recreational boating picks up in the spring and summer. (Source: Times-Picayune 03/19/15)