'Old school' mate's delay with autopilot cited in Gulf platform strike

摘要

Improper lookout and a crewman's lack of fluency with the autopilot system were leading factors in an allision last year in the Gulf of Mexico that ignited an unmanned drilling platform, according to federal investigators. Connor Bordelon, a 257-foot offshore supply vessel, was traveling back to Port Fourchon, La., from the deepwater oil fields when it struck the platform South Timbalier 271A at 0432 on Jan. 23, 2015. The incident occurred roughly five nautical miles from the port's entrance jetties.