The US Coast Guard is searching for 12 people missing off the coast of Louisiana after finding one person dead and pulling six survivors from rough seas when their commercial boat capsized in hurricane-force winds.
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Coast Guard Captain Will Watson said winds were 130 to 145km/h and seas were 2.1 to 2.7 metres when the Seacor Power lift vessel overturned.
"That's challenging under any circumstance," Watson said.
"We don't know the degree to which that contributed to what happened, but we do know those are challenging conditions to be out in the maritime environment."
The bulky vessel, which has three long legs it can lower to the sea floor to become an offshore platform, flipped over Tuesday afternoon south of Port Fourchon, a major base for the US oil and gas industry.
One worker was found dead on the surface of the water, Watson said at a news conference on Wednesday.
Asked about the prospects of the missing crew, he said: "We are hopeful. We can't do this work if you're not optimistic, if you're not hopeful."
Divers were heading to the local area Wednesday afternoon, Coast Guard spokesman Petty Officer John Micheli said.
The relationship of all on board to ship owner Seacor Marine was not immediately clear. The ship, which can work in up to 60 metres of water, can carry a crew of 12, two "special personnel" and 36 passengers, according to the company website.
While noting the harsh weather conditions, Watson said its role in the capsizing was under investigation.
Australian Associated Press