Three ships were involved in a collision on the lower Mississippi River near Convent, Louisiana, Monday when a bulk carrier broke free from its mooring and drifted into a moored towing vessel and then an offloading tank ship. The U.S. Coast Guard is responding.
Motor vessel Privocean, a 751-foot bulk carrier, broke free from its mooring and drifted down river and collided with the 98-foot towing vessel Texas which was moored at the time. The Privocean then continued to drift down river and collided with the motor vessel Bravo, an 816-foot tank ship, which was offloading crude oil at the time of the incident. The Bravo was able to complete emergency shutdown procedures before breaking free of her moorings and connection points, causing an oil spill.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received report of the incident at approximately 4 p.m. Monday. USCG response teams are actively monitoring the situation of all three vessel and affected areas down river and will continue to evaluate any potential impacts to the environment.
The Privocean was able to get underway and anchor at mile marker 162.
The Texas is currently stable and not taking on water or discharging oil, and its crew has been taken to hospital for medical evaluation but no injuries have been reported.
Bravo is half a mile down the river from its original position and is anchored with tugs escort. Though stable, the vessel is taking on water in the ballast tanks and its propeller is fouled with a mooring line.
The facility arms, the source of the discharge, were secured and containment boom was deployed by an Oil Spill Response Organization. Coast Guard response teams along with OMI Environmental Services are currently responding to the spill. Initial assessments show approximately 420 gallons of oil discharged into the river, and approximately 126 gallons of oil were spilled on deck of the Bravo but was contained and is currently being cleaned. The USCG has informed the down-river Parish Officials to protect municipal water supplies.
The Mississippi River remains closed from mile marker 163 to mile marker 154.
The cause of the incident is under investigation.
