Tragic Discovery: Crew Member Passes Away on Supply Vessel Near U.S. East Coast

A recent publication by Offshore Magazine reports a heartbreaking incident that took place on June 2 aboard a platform supply vessel in the Atlantic Ocean, off the East Coast of the United States.Tidewater has confirmed this unfortunate event, stating that emergency protocols were promptly initiated. Despite the valiant efforts of both the crew and emergency responders, one crew member tragically lost their life.

The company expressed profound sorrow and extended its condolences to all those impacted by this loss, including family members and fellow maritime workers. The specific circumstances surrounding the incident remain undisclosed at this time.

In response to this tragedy, the United States Coast Guard has commenced an investigation into what transpired. Tidewater has pledged its full cooperation with authorities during this inquiry while reiterating that ensuring personnel safety is their utmost priority.

The vessel involved is a DP2 platform supply ship built in 2014 and registered in the U.S. According to tracking data from marinetraffic, it docked at New York Harbor on June 3 and was still anchored at Port Bayonne as of June 6.While details about Polaris’s operations during the incident are scarce, it was engaged under a subcontract with Equinor for their Empire Wind offshore wind project near New York’s coast. Molly Morris, Senior Vice President of Equinor Renewables Americas, referred to it as a “tragic marine accident” and offered heartfelt sympathies to those affected by this loss.

Legal representatives from Bracewell LLP confirmed both Tidewater’s involvement and noted that Polaris was performing standard offshore operations when the incident occured.

Equinor’s Empire Wind 1 project is meaningful; it’s set to be a $5 billion offshore wind farm capable of supplying energy to approximately 500,000 homes in new York by 2027. This aspiring initiative had faced delays due to previous regulatory challenges but has since resumed under new administration support.

Based in Houston, Tidewater Inc. boasts one of the largest fleets dedicated to offshore support globally—an industry where safety remains paramount amidst ongoing developments like renewable energy projects.