The following is the text of a marine accident brief from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB):
Allision and sinking of the offshore supply vessel Celeste Ann
Executive summary
The offshore supply vessel Celeste Ann was receiving passengers from West Delta oil platform 73 about 20 nautical miles south of Grand Isle, La., when the vessel allided with the platform about 0836 on June 14, 2013. The allision punctured the hull, and the Celeste Ann subsequently flooded and sank. All passengers and crew evacuated to another vessel, and no one was injured.
Probable cause
The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the allision of the offshore supply vessel Celeste Ann with West Delta 73 platform A was the inability of the junior master to compensate for and overcome wind forces that pushed the vessel into the platform. Contributing to the hull breach and subsequent sinking of the Celeste Ann were underwater protrusions from the platform and open watertight doors on board the vessel.
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