A pipe layer barge TOG MOR ran aground near Villa Allende, east of the mouth of river Coatzacoalcos, Mexico, due to intense wind and high waves on 8th September.

After the incident, the tugboats attempted to tow the barge, but all efforts failed. The Transportes Aereos Pegaso deployed helicopters to evacuate 135 crew members aboard the vessel. The crew members were rescued successfully however, seven crew members remained on board for vessel safety and to oversee the upcoming refloat operation.

TOG MOR was in the process of laying the gas pipeline for Puerta al Sureste gas pipeline to transport gas from Texas, USA, to Tabasco, Mexico.

TOG MOR is a Malta-flagged vessel built in 1976. The vessel was purchased by Allseas in 1997 and was converted for pipe laying operations in 2001-02. The vessel is equipped with a 10-point mooring system and is capable of laying pipes of diameter up to 60 inches. Moreover, it has a Davit system to perform mid-point tie-ins and a 300-ton crane to support construction works.