PSV runs aground near Cameron, Louisiana

US Coast Guard crews assisted a 44-metre offshore supply vessel (OSV) taking on water after it ran aground north of Monkey Island near Cameron, Louisiana, early on the morning of October 15.

At 00:00, the crew of Candy Store contacted Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders to report the vessel was taking on water and in need of assistance.

A Station Lake Charles 8.8-metre response boat-small (RB-S) was launched. Once on scene, the crew of the RB-S passed two dewatering pumps to the vessel and remained on scene throughout the night with Candy Store.

It is estimated that 3,785 litres of diesel fuel spilled into the marine environment due to damage to one of the vessel’s diesel tanks. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Lake Charles and Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) personnel completed shore and waterside pollution assessments while overseeing the cleanup efforts of the contracted Oil Spill Response Organization (OSRO). Due to weather, including the recent steady rainfall, the spilled diesel fuel has largely dissipated and poses minimal threat to the environment or public.

The vessel owners and OSRO prevented the spill of an additional estimated 7,570 litres of diesel fuel which were in the damaged tank by transferring the fuel to undamaged vessel tanks and containers.

As of 20:08 local time on October 19, Candy Store has been removed from its grounded position and is being transported to a shipyard in Morgan City, Louisiana, for permanent repairs.

The cause of the incident is still under investigation.