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One Missing After Dredge Workboat Capsizes in Charleston

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The dredge Brunswick with several workboats alongside (File image courtesy Southern Dredging)

Published Apr 12, 2019 10:48 AM by The Maritime Executive

A dredge workboat capsized near Charleston, South Carolina on Thursday, leaving one mariner missing. 

On Thursday night, the dredge Brunswick was towing a workboat in Charleston Harbor. Coast Guard Sector Charleston received a request for assistance from the Brunswick at 2151 hours; the dredge reported that the workboat had capsized with two individuals on board. The Brunswick rescued one of the two mariners, and the Coast Guard launched an MH-65 SAR helicopter and two response boats to search for the other individual. 

The Charleston City Fire Department, North Charleston Fire, Charleston Police, Charleston County Sheriffs and South Carolina Department of Natural Resources also deployed resources to assist with the SAR effort. The search continued through the night without success and was still under way on Monday morning. 

The shipowner, Southern Dredging Co., is coordinating an operation to salvage the workboat. The cause of the casualty is under investigation.