The following is a marine accident brief from the National Transportation Safety Board:
Sinking of offshore supply vessel Ricky B
Accident summary
On May 30, 2013, at 0702 central daylight time, the offshore supply vessel Ricky B sank in the Gulf of Mexico about 24 nm south of Marsh Island, Louisiana, while being towed. The three crewmembers had abandoned the Ricky B earlier and boarded a good samaritan vessel, from which they were subsequently transferred to a nearby manned oil platform. No one was injured. The Ricky B was later refloated. Its damage was estimated to be $520,000.
Probable cause
The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the sinking of the offshore supply vessel Ricky B was the crew's failure to adequately assess the severity of the flooding rate through the starboard shaft seal gland and take prudent action to mitigate the situation.
To view the complete casualty report, click here.
