Coast Guard Suspends Search for Two Additional Missing Crew Members

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX — An extensive search for two crew members of a vessel who went missing following a pipeline explosion last week in the Port of Corpus Christi has been called off according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

The end of the search was announced late Saturday evening, shortly after the Coast Guard noted that the bodies of two additional missing crew members of the dredging vessel Waymon L Boyd had been found.

Capt. Edward Gaynor, commander, Coast Guard Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi said, “Our Coast Guard crews worked intently alongside state and local partners to locate the two crew members who remained missing, but unfortunately, we were unable to locate them.”

“The decision to suspend a search is never easy and a lot of factors are considered before suspending a search. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the friends and families of the missing crew members during this difficult time.”

The explosion reportedly happened at about 8 a.m. Friday when a dredging vessel struck a submerged pipeline, according to the Coast Guard.

Port of Corpus Christi officials later confirmed that it was a natural gas pipeline.

The fire onboard the vessel was initially extinguished late Friday afternoon, however it reportedly sparked again and was finally put out at approximately 10 p.m. Friday, shortly before the vessel broke apart and sunk, according to  Coast Guard officials.

The Waymon L Boyd vessel typically carries a maximum of about 6,000 gallons of diesel fuel, however the Texas General Land Office, which investigates oil spills, said diesel fuel is currently being recovered from the channel and environmentally sensitive areas after approximately 1,600 gallons of diesel fuel was leaked into the gulf.

Air quality tests have found no air pollution and testing of the waterway is planned, according to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Agencies Involved in the search were:

• Coast Guard Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi
• Coast Guard Station Port Aransas
• Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team Corpus Christi
• Coast Guard Cutter Chinook
• Coast Guard Cutter Manta
• Coast Guard Cutter Sturgeon
• Port Police Department Marine Units
• Harbormaster's Office
• Security Command Center