Research vessel floods, sinks in Gulf of Mexico; crew escapes to lifeboats

摘要

U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crews rescued 12 people from lifeboats after their research vessel capsized and later sank in the Gulf of Mexico during rough weather. The 170-foot Seaprobe was about 141 miles south of Pensac-ola, Fla., when it started taking on water late on Jan. 17. Crews spent nearly four hours trying to control the flooding before escaping into lifeboats. The Coast Guard received the vessel's distress signal at about 0145 on Tan. 18.