Deepwater Horizon Hearings – Live Blogging gCaptain Total Views: 118 May 26, 2010 This morning the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and Minerals Management Service (MMS) began the second part of the Deepwater Horizon Investigation at the Radisson hotel in Kenner Louisiana. Earlier this month the USCG, MMS and third party workboat personnel involved with rig testified as to their knowledge of the events. This week’s hearing brings the granular knowledge of experts, vessel personnel and persons of interest. A complete list of witnesses can be found on the official Deepwater Horizon (DWH) Investigation website . The USCG is taking the lead in this investigation under the direction of Captain Hung Nguyen , USCG. Despite the USCG’s lead, this is a joint investigation between the USCG and MMS. The bulk of the questions are posed to each witness by the USCG and MMS representatives but each Party Of Special Interest, is given an opportunity to ask questions. gCaptain staff are on location in Kenner and will provide a brief outline of questions asked/answered on this post with a follow-up article coming soon. Comments indented are those of gCaptain and not necessarily the opinions of expert witnesses. If you have specific questions about the testimony, please leave them as a comment to our related forum post found HERE . Board Members for the hearings are : Capt. Hung Nguyen, USCG – co-chair Mr. David Dykes, MMS – co-chair Mr. Russ Wheatley, USCG Mr. Jason Matthews, MMS Mr. John McCarroll, MMS 6. Lt. Robert Butts, USCG – recorder Captain Carl Smith, Offshore Expert The first witnesses called is Captain Carl Smith, Master/OIM of the MODU Ocean Courage , a Marshal Islands flagged, ABS classes, Class II Dynamically Positioned Semi-Submersible. He has been called to provide expert witness testimony as to the marine side of deepwater offshore operations, most likely because of his unique combination of USCG and offshore drilling operations (confirmed that the USCG was the organiz