The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:
(NEW ORLEANS) — The Coast Guard is searching for a missing crewmember near Atchafalaya Bay who was last seen on the tug boat Captain Curtis early today.
A watchstander from Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a call at 3:25 a.m. today from the captain of the tug boat, reporting that one of the crewmembers had been missing since approximately 2:45 a.m.
Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans launched an HH-65C rescue helicopter and crew and searched throughout the day and are scheduled to resume first light searches Friday.