SIU members helped extinguish a shipboard fire March 28 near Mobile, Alabama, on the USNS Sgt. William R. Button (Crowley). No injuries were reported and, while the formal investigation hasn’t been finalized, indications are that the mishap involved equipment failure rather than human error.
The 673-foot-long ship was successfully towed back into port from about 24 miles off the coast of Dauphin Island.
SIU Mobile Port Agent Jimmy White regularly met with the SIU crew following the incident.
Bosun Samuel Thatcher noted, “I would like to take the time to thank and publicly state how proud I am of the crew on the Button. After a fire broke out in the engine room while underway, the alarms sounded and the entire crew sprang quickly into action. Within minutes, people were on station, boundary cooling … before dumping the C02 system was performed. Due to everyone’s training and performance of their duties, the fire in the main engine space was quickly contained and extinguished, preventing further damage to the ship.”
Thatcher continued, “These actions were performed with the highest degree of professionalism, and with no injuries. In the aftermath, the crew worked long, irregular hours with zero complaints for two days. The crew truly embodied the saying, Brotherhood of the Sea.”
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