The 17 meter long tugboat Mrs Baye sunk in the Charenton Canal near Charenton, Louisiana. The three crew on board the tug were able to abandon ship and reach shore safely. No reports of injuries. The Coast Guard was notified of the sinking and has launched an investigation into the incident. The cause of the water ingress was not reported.
The 195 foot long towboat American Heritage collided with the towboat David G. Schert on the Mississippi River near Vacherie, Louisiana. After the collision five of the barges being pushed broke free. One barge capsized releasing its cargo of caustic soda solution into the river. Coast Guard reported that upto 23,672 gallons of the solution could have been released into the water. No reports of injuries on either vessel. Traffic was halted on that section of the Mississippi River, but was later reopened. The cause of the collision is under investigation.
On April 6, the 229 meter long, 81434 dwt bulk carrier Privocean allided with the 32 meter long tug Texas and the 249 meter long,116014 dwt tanker Bravo on the Mississippi River near Convent, Louisiana. The Privocean was moored at a terminal loading coal when its lines broke and the vessel drifted down river. Before the vessel was brought under control, it struck the tug Texas before it drifted farther down river and slammed into the tanker Bravo at the Ergon terminal in the St. James area. The Bravo was off-loading oil at the time and the allision caused some 420 gallons of oil to be released into the water and another 126 gallons onto the tanker’s deck. No reports of injuries.
The Texas had run aground during the incident, but did not suffer water ingress. The Bravo sustained damage to its ballast tanks and its propeller became entangled by one of the mooring lines. The Privocean suffered only slight damage. Reports state the Ergon terminal suffered significant damage. The facility has requested a judge to to seize Privocean and auction it to cover the damage costs.
The Coast Guard stop traffic on the section of the river for several days until it was determined no oil could be recovered. The Coast Guard has launched an investigation into the incident.
