SEARCH CONTINUES FOR 5 MISSING CREWMEN

February 22, 2004

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard’s search for five missing crewmembers continues this afternoon after the boat they were on sank in the Mississippi River near Pilottown, La.

Missing are: Joseph Brown, 44, of Vidor, Texas; Lawrence Glass, 65, of Mobile, Ala.; Daniel Lopez, 31, of Port Arthur, Texas; Ramon Norwood, 27, of Galveston, Texas; and Baldemar Villerreal, 54, of Lake Jackson, Texas.

The 178-foot offshore supply vessel Lee III sank soon after it and the Zim Mexico III, a 534-foot Antiguan-flagged cargo ship, collided at about 5:20 a.m. in the Mississippi Delta seven miles south of Pilottown. There are no reports of injuries aboard the Zim Mexico III.

The Coast Guard Captain of the Port for New Orleans has closed the Mississippi River to maritime traffic surrounding the accident area. Coast Guard marine investigators are on scene and are investigating the cause of the accident.

There are reports of debris and sheening in the vicinity of where the Lee III sank. Fog was reported in the area at the time of the accident.

Vessels from the New Orleans Port Authority and Plaquemines Parish, as well as local good Samaritans, are assisting in the search. Divers from the U.S. Navy’s Mobile Salvage Dive Unit have also been called in to assist the Coast Guard.

SEARCH CONTINUES FOR 5 MISSING CREWMEN

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard’s search for five missing crewmembers continues this afternoon after the boat they were on sank in the Mississippi River near Pilottown, La.

There are reports of debris and sheening in the vicinity of where the Lee III sank. Fog was reported in the area at the time of the accident.

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