CG having busy weekend

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard medically-evacuated a 64-year-old woman from the cruise ship Norwegian Breakaway at 9:15 a.m. on Nov. 17 in the Gulf of Mexico some 230 nautical miles off shore of Southwest Pass, La. Eighth Coast Guard District watch-standers launched a Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-65 helicopter/crew to the scene. They hoisted the woman, who was suffering from abdominal pain, and transferred her to West Jefferson Medical Center in New Orleans in fair condition. Also over the weekend, the CG and a good Samaritan vessel assisted in the rescue of 15 people Nov. 18 from a liftboat near on Grand Isle, La. The CG received a report at around 3:16 a.m. from the134-foot liftboat Ram XVIII was taking on water about 23 nautical miles west of Southwest Pass, La. The CG launched a 45-foot Response boat/crew. The good Samaritan vessel, Starfleet Guardian, embarked six people from the liftboat. The CG Station Grand Isle boat/crew embarked the remaining nine and transferred them to Starfleet Guardian which took them to shore. The vessel had a 45-degree list and no power, causing it to be unable to self-correct. A steel tank filled with soap fell overboard causing a hazard to navigation. The liftboat had some 13,900 gallons of diesel onboard. There are currently no current reports of discharge. The CG issued an urgent safety marine information broadcast for the tank and liftboat. The CG Marine Safety Unit at Houma, La., had plans to attend to the liftboat later on Sunday. The cause is under investigation. (Source: Coast Guard 11/17-18/18)