tampabayonline.net
9/25/99 -- 5:00 PM
Drilling rig capsizes in Gulf of Mexico; 1 man missing
PORT ARANSAS, Texas (AP) - A 122-foot drilling rig capsized in the Gulf of Mexico early Saturday, leaving 11 crewmembers to be
rescued and one man missing, the Coast Guard said.
The jack-up rig DL-Hanson collapsed about 1:30 a.m. when one of its four legs gave way in 150-180 feet of water about 30 miles
northeast of Aransas Pass, said Coast Guard Lt. Michael Beliveua said.
There were 12 crew members aboard.
''Some went in the water, some held onto the rig,'' Beliveua said.
Scores of rescue craft, including three Navy minesweepers, three boats, five helicopters and a jet from Air Station Corpus Christi were
dispatched to the rig.
Four crew members were airlifted to Spohn Memorial Hospital in Corpus Christi, where they were treated for minor injuries and released.
Seven others were rescued by boats and delivered to other nearby rigs.
One man remained missing Saturday afternoon.
The DL-Hanson is operated by Cardinal Services of New Iberia, La. A spokesman did not return a telephone call from The Associated
Press early Saturday.
The Coast Guard's Marine Safety Office is investigating the accident.
Jack-up rigs are platforms used for drilling for oil and for other sub-surface exploration. They can be floated into place and jacked up on
retractable legs to the proper height.
Copyright 1999 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Cardinal Services is part of SESI,
Roebear
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