TODD MICHAEL

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Tug grounded on Lake Pontchartrain

The Coast Guard rescued three crewmembers aboard athe "Todd Michael" on Lake Pontchartrain on Apr 15, 2014. Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector New Orleans command center received a report the tug was taking on water as high waves pushed by the passing storm front broke a line connecting the vessel and the barge it was pushing. As the ships were tossed around, the master decided to run the tug intentionally aground on the rocks near the Lakefront Airport on Lake Pontchartrain. The accident happened in the morning as a line of violent storms moved through the New Orleans area and along the Mississippi coast. The grounding site was about seven miles from the heavily trafficked 23.9-mile long causeway that connects the lake's north and south shores, both suburbs of New Orleans. High waves pushed by a passing storm front broke a line connecting the vessel and a barge it was pushing. The Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew and a response boatcrew from Coast Guard Station New Orleans. The aircrew hoisted two crewmen from the ship, the boatcrew removed one member from the barge attached to the towing vessel. Both Coast Guard crews transported the three to emergency medical services. They were taken to hospitals for treatment of injuries he described as dehydration and bruises. The barge was not carrying cargo and had been moved to another site by Apr 16 morning. Todd Eymard of Belle Chasse, La.-based Hugh Eymard Towing Inc. was working with the Coast Guard on a plan to salvage the "Todd Michael". Report with photos: http://www.uscgnews.com/go/doc/4007/2144654/Coast-Guard-rescues-3-from-tug-taking-on-water-in-Lake-Pontchartrain-#sthash.xRHIJEdu.dpuf