Tug Florida Seahorse; Houma, Louisiana

Houma, Louisiana | 1998-Feb-26

Initial Notification: At 1930, February 26, 1998, MSO Morgan City was told that the tug, Florida Seahorse, carrying 1000 gallons of diesel fuel, was sinking 3 miles south of the Houma, Louisiana navigational channel. When the tug's position was plotted, it was found to be buried 3 feet under mud and extremely close to the recorded position of a crude-oil pipeline. The morning of February 25, 1998, when salvors went on-scene, they were unable to locate the vessel. The concern was that if the vessel might rupture the pipeline causing a catastrophic loss of oil. The incident was federalized. MSO Morgan City directed the salvage operations; NOAA provided weather support. USCG district 8. Keyword: none.