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Tag: Pollution

Mississippi Collision

Mississippi Collision

RC Creppel

On January 26, the 61 meter long towboat Cooperative Spirit collided with the 22 meter long towboat RC Creppel on the Mississippi River off Luling, Louisiana. The Cooperative Spirit proceeded upbound on the river when it struck the RC Creppel and two barges ladden with sulfuric acid.  The barges broke away and the RC Creppel quickly sank. One barge sustained damage and released vapor in the air. The Cooperative Spirit also reported significant damage, but remained afloat.

Authorities were alerted and the Coast Guard dispatched a response boat and a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from New Orleans. Traffic on the Mississippi River was halted while the barges could be secured while searching for the four crew of the RC Creppel.  One crewman from the RC Creppel was pulled from the water by a nearby boat.

Authorities continued a search into the following day, but no signs of the remaining 3 crewmen.  Reports state the search and rescue operation finally ended after 67 hours of searching.  The Coast Guard has launched an investigation into the incident.

Reem 5

Reem 5

Reem 5
Photo: freepressjournal.in

On January 23, the 76 meter long, 1893 dwt bitumen tanker Reem 5 sank in the Arabian sea some 100 nautical miles off Karachi, Pakistan. The Reem 5 was en route to Hazira, India from Basrah when it suffered water ingress in the engine room.  Unable to contain the flooding with the vessel’s pumps, the Reem 5 quickly began to sink.  The crew sent out a distress call and prepared to abandon ship.  The Indian Coast Guard received the message and directed the 197 meter long, 58849 dwt bulk carrier Ganga K to the scene.  The Ganga K arrived and safely transferred 13 off the Reem 5.  No reports of injuries. The Ganga K remained on scene to the monitor the Reem 5.  The Reem 5 later sank the following day. Reports state the Ganga K is proceeding to Mumbai with the 13 crew of the Reem 5.

Ganga K
Ganga K (Formerly Cambria Colossus)
Collision on the Rhine

Collision on the Rhine

 

Maintal
Photo: dw.com

On January 28, the 110 meter long self-propelled tanker-barge Maintal collided with the 105 meter long self-propelled barge Allegro on the Rhine near Zons, Germany. The Maintal was loaded with a cargo of gas oil from Spay when it struck head-on with the Allegro which had 1500 tons of soy on board.  The Maintal sustained hull damage including a rupture to one of its cargo tanks. Some 2000 litres of gas oil was released into the river. The master of the Maintal also sustained minor injuries. The Allegro also sustained significant damage to its bow, but no reports of injuries.

Authorities allowed the vessels to proceed to nearby berths. The Allegro berthed in Cologne and the Maintal berthed at Duisburg.  Authorities placed booms around the Maintal to contain any further pollution released.  The pollution released in the Rhine could not be contained due to the strong currents.  Authorities closed several entrances to ports and canals along the Rhine due to the pollution.