Research Vessel Burns Off Coast of La.

[jpak]

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nat-gen/2006/aug/12/081205482.html

A research vessel off the coast of Louisiana continued to burn Saturday, a day after the U.S. Coast Guard rescued 40 people from the ship.

"The vessel is still afloat and they're working diligently to put out the fire," Petty Officer Susan Blake said.

Two men suffered minor injuries fighting the fire that started in the engine room and were transported by helicopter to West Jefferson Medical Center in Marrero.

<snip>

The rest of the crew was taken from the 175-foot Odyssey Voyager, located 10 miles off the coast, to Fourchon.

<more>

[medeak]

1. sounds wierd

It was not immediately known what type of research the crew was conducting.

[jpak]

3. link with picture

http://www.wral.com/apnationalnews/9670893/detail.html

[El Supremo]

2. I Googled Odyssey Voyager...

and came up with nothing.

Strange.

[jpak]

4. I did the same - and got the same

There is a UNOLS research vessel Odyssey Explorer (which I thought this one was at first) but I can't find anything about this one.

Mighty long crane on the back deck...

[reprobate]

5. I found three research vessels with Odyssee in the name. None match.

Lookup here

None match the OAL of the stated 175 foot vessel.

[theHandpuppet]

6. I think I may have found it...

http://shipwreck.net/oe/index.shtml
http://www.shipwreck.net/abrfounder.html

Edited to add: The pic is not of the Odyssey Voyager itself but of the Odyssey Explorer. However, it does match the kind of ship in the report, operates in the same area and may be one of the ships owned by this company, Odyssey.

[theHandpuppet]

7. Ah! They DID add another vessel

I suspect this one may be the Odyssey Voyager. Since the vessel was just added to the fleet less than two months ago, you probably wouldn't find info on it with a routine Google search. I found this info by touring the Odyssey website (link above).

Odyssey Marine Exploration Purchases Additional Vessel
New Ship Expands Company's Shipwreck Search Capabilities

Tampa, FL - June 27, 2006 - Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. (AMEX: OMR), a leader in the field of deep-ocean shipwreck exploration, has purchased an additional ship similar in size to the Odyssey Explorer.

This ship has completed preliminary mobilization and will be equipped with a state-of-the-art side-scan sonar system and a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) to conduct search operations and target inspections.

"As we focus our efforts on our core business - finding and recovering shipwrecks around the world - expanding our operational capabilities with an upgraded search and ROV operations platform is a key component in our long-term business strategy. This new vessel is a flexible and extremely stable platform and will provide us with worldwide heavy weather operational capability as our primary search and target inspection vessel, while still being available as needed for other operations," said Greg Stemm, Odyssey's co-founder. "The addition of this ship means we will have three major expeditions going on this year, which will be a 'first' for Odyssey."

MORE

[theHandpuppet]

9. Interesting -- Odyssey Marine Explorations and its NOLA connection

So they were having "economic difficulties" and were supposed to close up shop in NOLA come September? Veddy, veddy interesting, if this is the same company whose ship is the one which caught fire off the LA coast...

http://www.freemarketnews.com/Press-Release.asp?nid=7859

TO MOVE NEW ORLEANS SHIPWRECK ATTRACTION TO NEW MARKET

Press Release - ODYSSEY MARINE EXPLORATION INC.
Friday, August 04, 2006 8:43:00 AM EST

Tampa, FL - August 3, 2006 - Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc (AMEX: OMR), a leader in the field of deep-ocean shipwreck exploration, has exercised its right to terminate the lease agreement on the property housing its shipwreck attraction in New Orleans due to the continuing economic and business difficulties in the city and surrounding areas since Hurricane Katrina.

Odyssey's Shipwreck & Treasure Adventure will close in September 2006. Odyssey plans to re-open the attraction in another market later in 2006. The attraction originally opened in New Orleans on August 27, 2005, but closed almost immediately due to Hurricane Katrina. The attraction re-opened in early 2006, along with many other businesses who hoped to help bring the tourism industry back to life in the city....

[theHandpuppet]

10. More info on this company's finances

I wish someone could confirm whether or not this is the company whose ship is up in flames, because this certainly gets more interesting by the minute if it's true.

http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20060807005918&newsLang=en

August 07, 2006 05:54 PM US Eastern Timezone
Odyssey Marine Exploration Announces Second Quarter 2006 Results; Revenue Doubles from First to Second Quarter in 2006

TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 7, 2006--Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. (AMEX:OMR), a leader in the field of deep-ocean shipwreck exploration, today filed a quarterly report with the Securities and Exchange Commission detailing results of the Company's second quarter 2006.

For the second quarter 2006, Odyssey reported revenue of $2.0 million compared to $3.8 million in the second quarter 2005. The Company also reported a net loss of $4.1 million, compared to a net loss of $1.0 million in 2005. The net loss per share for the second quarter 2006 was $.09, compared to a net loss of $.03 in the second quarter 2005. (Second-quarter 2006 earnings included the expense associated with adopting Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123R, Share-Based Payment, which requires the expensing of stock options. The adoption of SFAS 123R resulted in a second-quarter 2006 EPS impact of $0.01 per share.)

"While we remain disappointed with our financial results, we are encouraged by our quarter to quarter revenue improvement, which included doubling our revenue from the first quarter 2006. We will continue to implement key changes to our strategic business plan, which are already showing results, while we continue to aggressively search for deep-ocean shipwrecks that can be archaeologically excavated and capitalized relatively quickly," said John C. Morris, Odyssey's Chairman and CEO....

MORE

[cprems]

11. NO conspiracy here

I was a paramedic on the odyssea voyager and was on the boat a week prior to the fire. The boat is owned by North shore Towing and leased to Superior Offshore as a DIVE SUPPORT VESSEL (NOT a research ship) There is NO conspiracy here, I talked with people on the boat and they say the fire started in the Bow Thruster room and could not be contained. I lost approx. $3700 worth of personal gear/DVDs/CD's and fishing equipment.

I hope this helps,

Ian

[newyawker99]

13. Hi cprems!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[jpak]

14. Wow - sorry to hear that

I spend a lot of time on research vessels and a fire at sea is my worst nightmare.

Hope you get compensated (somehow) for your lost gear.

[gula]

8. WRONG HEADLINE. Search for $ NOT research vessel. n/t

[Submariner]

12. The OV burning

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/08/12/ap/national/mainD8JF16S80.shtml

[cprems]

15. RE: OV burning

Yep, thats her there. The only things they managed to save were 2 dive hats and the crane. Its a shame, right now I do not have a job to go to. I was supposed to be back on the boat tomorrow (Monday) My partner on the boat called the office from the life raft and told them what was going on. If I find anything else out I will keep you guys posted.

Ian

[Dervill Crow]

16. Bummer!

Welcome to DU, and I'm glad you and your partner are both safe. Hope everything works out for you with employment and compensation for the stuff you lost.