Fire extinguished aboard Rem Andes after 42 evacuated in life rafts south of Grand Isle on Monday, Oct. 12

NEW ORLEANS: The fire aboard the seismic survey vessel Rem Andes was extinguished on Monday afternoon, Oct. 12, hours after 42 people left the burning vessel in life rafts about 100 miles south of Grand Isle, Louisiana.

WGNO reported, in an update posted at 3:20 p.m. Central time on Monday, that the fire had been extinguished as of 2:50 p.m. Baird Maritime, citing WVUE, put the time the fire was put out at about 2:45 p.m. local time on Monday.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. Mike Browning, via DVIDS (public domain)

Reports on Monday afternoon identified the stricken vessel as Rem Andes, a Cyprus flagged seismic survey vessel. Baird Maritime reported that the vessel is 87.9 meters long, is operated by Rem Offshore and is managed by Rem Maritime. The Coast Guard accounts reported at midday on Monday had not yet named the vessel.

No injuries were reported, according to initial accounts reported by Baird Maritime. Those aboard had entered life rafts and were transferred to nearby good Samaritan vessels, which Grand Isle Police Chief Chris Hernandez described as two oilfield vessels bound for Port Fourchon.

The Coast Guard cutter Yellowfin, an 87-foot cutter based in Charleston, South Carolina, assisted, and Coast Guard aircrews remained on scene earlier on Monday to help account for all personnel.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Bill Colclough, via DVIDS (public domain)

Baird Maritime reported that tracking data showed Rem Andes slowed and began drifting at about 9:55 a.m. on Monday, and was later reported drifting northeast, about 90 nautical miles south of Whiskey Island, Louisiana.

No cause for the fire had been released on Monday. This report updates the account of the rescue the Tribune published at midday on Monday, Oct. 12.