US diversified owner Seacor Holdings has put out a statement on its liftboat capsizing in the US Gulf on Tuesday but had no further information on 12 unaccounted seafarers.
The US Coast Guard (USCG) found a body as the search continued on Thursday for them after Seacor Marine's 2,300-gt Seacor Power (built 2002) turned over.
The 39-metre vessel capsized 12km from Port Fourchon on Tuesday afternoon amid a half-hour of 120 km per hour winds in the area, followed by hours of winds over 80kph.
One crew member was found dead on the surface of the water, but six others had been rescued by two USCG ships and multiple Good Samaritan vessels.
"We are deeply saddened by the news of the vessel capsizing and are working closely with the US Coast Guard and local authorities to support all efforts to locate our valued team members and partners," Seacor said in a statement.
"We would like to thank the US Coast Guard and Good Samaritan vessels for their immediate response as well as the brave individuals who have further supported our search-and-rescue effort.
"Our hearts and prayers go out to everyone involved."
The self-propelled, self-elevating vessel is used to support drilling or exploration activities. The USCG said it had received an emergency radio notification at 2130 GMT.
Four USCG vessels, four civilian ships and an Ocean Sentry sea aeroplane were taking part in the search on Wednesday.
The vessel has insurance cover from Skuld in Norway. There are no port state control inspections on record for the ship.
VesselsValue assesses the Seacor Power as worth $1.82m.
