Two Injured in Pipeline Blaze off Louisiana
A natural gas pipeline has caught fire approximately 25 miles south of Marsh Island, La., Wednesday, injuring two vessel crew members working on the pipeline, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Coast Guard watchstanders in New Orleans were notified at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday that a natural gas pipeline had ruptured and was ablaze. Sector New Orleans directed the launch of a HC-144 Ocean Sentry fixed-wing aircraft crew from Aviation Training Center Mobile to monitor the situation.
The dive operation vessel Ms. Kerci was working on the pipeline at the time of the rupture. Two crew members aboard the vessel were injured and are being escorted to Houma, La.
The pipeline is reported to be extinguished, the Coast Guard said. The cause of the incident is under investigation.
The pipeline's owner, Boardwalk/Gulf South Pipeline Co., is sending out a second vessel to repair the ruptured pipeline.