A stationary front across the southeast led to a large group of thunderstorms moving across Louisiana and other Gulf Coast states Tuesday.
Shortly after the 129-foot Seacor Power elevator, a ship serving oil platforms, left Port Fourchon on Tuesday afternoon, it would have encountered a strong line of thunderstorms. The ship was about seven nautical miles south of Port Fourchon when the vessel issued a call on Mayday just before 4:30 p.m.
High waves and winds of 40 to 60 mph were reported at nearby land stations, even up to 12 hours after the boat capsized.
“The cloud tops have reached more than 50,000 feet, indicating very strong storms,” CNN meteorologist Taylor Ward said. “Very strong winds are being pulled to the surface and radar data has also shown that rotation is embedded in the storms, so it can not be out of the question that water purifications could also take place.”
If that wasn’t enough, there was also something called ‘gravity waves’.
This would have made it even more difficult on any ship in that region, let alone a large one that had already fought stormy conditions.
Rescue efforts continue
Six people have been rescued from the water while the bodies of four people have been recovered so far.
The Coast Guard has been using contracted private divers for the past few days to carry out search and rescue missions. However, the weather was not ideal. Thunderstorms repeatedly appeared in the search area with gusts of wind, small hail and the potential for water spray. The chance of showers and thunderstorms remains in the forecast for the weekend, making the search and rescue teams more difficult.
“Our rescue teams diligently continued the search and rescue efforts for the missing people of the wrecked vessel,” said Capt. Will Orseans, commander of the Coast Guard sector, said New Orleans.
Watson noted that the water temperature is above 70 degrees, and this is an important detail.
So, with water temperatures in the low 70s currently located around the ship, the temperature may not be exactly warm, but it can survive.
Mallika Kallingal, Joe Sutton and Taylor Ward contributed to this report.