As the Coast Guard suspends its search and rescue efforts, the National Transportation Safety Board will now begin to “figure out what happened here so that hopefully we can learn some lessons that help us to prevent this from ever happening again,” Watson said at the press conference.
“We just came here from talking to the families,” he added. “Told them what I’m telling you all now. There was a lot of hugging and a lot of crying. There was a lot of sadness and grief. But there was also a lot of hope and a lot of faith, still. I just want to say to all those folks, our deepest sympathies extend to you all.”
The Seacor Power lift boat departed from Port Fourchon around 1:30 p.m. on April 13. Around 4:30 p.m., Coast Guard watchstanders received word that the 129-foot commercial vessel was in distress and issued an urgent marine information broadcast to call for help.
At the time, civilians managed to rescue four of the boat’s crew members, while Coast Guard crews rescued two others.
Five bodies were recovered in the following days.
A spokesperson for the Lafourche Parish Coroner’s Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
“I would like to extend my deepest and most sincere condolences to the families, friends and loved ones — all those impacted by this terrible tragedy,” Watson said in a press release from the Coast Guard. “I know that this is an immensely difficult time for you all, and for the entire maritime community.”
