The U.S. Coast Guard rescued three people and confirmed a fourth reached shore after a tugboat partially sank in Mobile Bay in October 2009.
According to a Coast Guard report, the tugboat went down at about 3 a.m. on a Saturday, leaving its four-person crew in need of assistance.
Overnight rescue operation
A Coast Guard helicopter and crew from Air Station New Orleans located and rescued three crew members at about 5 a.m. The fourth crew member used a 14-foot skiff to reach shore and contacted the local fire department to report being safe.
All four people survived the incident. The response highlighted the role of air crews and local emergency responders in quickly locating people in distress on Mobile Bay during overnight conditions.
Pollution response and investigation
A Coast Guard pollution team was sent toward the partially sunken tugboat to assess and contain possible fuel or oil leakage. That action reflected the additional environmental risks that can follow a vessel casualty in the bay’s busy maritime environment.
The cause of the tugboat sinking was under investigation when the report was released. No further details about the vessel’s condition or the circumstances leading to the partial sinking were available in the initial account.
The event combined a successful crew rescue with an immediate effort to protect Mobile Bay from a potential spill. It remains a reminder of the operational and environmental stakes surrounding marine incidents in the waters serving the Port of Mobile and nearby coastal communities.