Coast Guard assists rescue of 42 people from burning vessel

The United States Coast Guard assisted in the rescue of 42 people from a burning research vessel about 100 miles south of Grand Isle, Louisiana, on Monday. FOX 8 Local First, NOLA.com, and WWLTV.com all reported that the ship carried 42 people when the emergency occurred in the Gulf of Mexico. [1][4][5]

FOX 8 Local First reported that the Coast Guard identified the stricken ship as the Rem Andes, an 88-meter research and survey vessel sailing under a Cyprus flag. The fire aboard the vessel was successfully extinguished by 2:45 p.m. local time, according to reports from FOX 8 Local First and The Lafourche Gazette. [1][7]

Rescue operations continued as lifeboats were deployed to evacuate those on board, according to FOX 8 Local First. No injuries were reported in initial accounts following the incident. [1]

The 14-year-old vessel was built in Poland and is operated by Rem Offshore, a Norwegian firm providing support to offshore energy installations, FOX 8 Local First reported. Grand Isle is a town located on a barrier island in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, at the mouth of Barataria Bay. [1][9]