(NEW ORLEANS) — The U.S. Coast Guard responded Wednesday to Noble Globetrotter II, a drillship that reportedly sustained damage during Hurricane Ida.
During the storm, the Coast Guard received a report that the vessel had sustained damage. Members of the Coast Guard’s 8th District Outer Continental Shelf Division have been in contact with both the master of Noble Globetrotter II and Noble Corp. since Sunday to determine the extent of any damage, and to ensure that the crew’s lifesaving equipment is functional and available in the event of an emergency.
Throughout all of the communications between the U.S. licensed master of the vessel and the Coast Guard, the master has maintained that the vessel was not in distress and not actively taking on water. Information released on social media, reportedly from the crew of Noble Globetrotter II, indicates potential issues with safety, including possible damage to the hull.
Out of an abundance of caution, the Coast Guard launched a helicopter air crew from Air Station New Orleans to conduct an overflight of the vessel and has diverted the Coast Guard cutter Venturous to the scene.
The vessel and the company are developing a plan to bring the vessel into port for repairs. The Coast Guard will maintain communications with the master of the vessel until it arrives in port.
The vessel and crew on Wednesday were located 80 nautical miles south-southeast of Grand Isle, La., in the Gulf of Mexico.
– U.S. Coast Guard
