A fire on the tanker Rem Andes was reported on Monday, October 12, 2026, near the shores of Grande Isle, Louisiana. According to information provided by the United States Coast Guard, at the time of the incident, 42 people were on board the tanker, and evacuation operations have begun.
Details of the incident and rescue operations
The United States Coast Guard has announced that several crew members have been transferred to lifeboats and moved to nearby rescue vessels. Additionally, Coast Guard air search and rescue teams have been dispatched to the scene to ensure that all survivors are properly identified.
According to AIS data provided by Pole Star Global, the tanker Rem Andes suddenly deviated from its usual course at 09:55 AM and began to drift northward. Local sources report that the fire was extinguished by around 14:45, and efforts to rescue the crew from the lifeboats that had previously separated from the ship are still ongoing.
Background and status of the tanker Rem Andes
The tanker Rem Andes, managed by Norway, has been in service since 2012 and is recognized as a specialized seismic survey tanker. AIS records indicate that this vessel has been operating in survey lines on the continental shelf of the United States for at least the past year, working from the ports of Gulfport and Port Fourchon. The last inspection by the United States Coast Guard of this ship was conducted in late 2025, and no issues were reported at that time.
The tanker Rem Andes continued to transmit AIS signals throughout the day, slowly moving northeast at a position approximately 90 nautical miles south of Whiskey Island, Louisiana. Rescue operations and the assessment of the crew's condition are still ongoing.
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