Coast Guard responds to multiple vessel collision

WWLTV was among TV stations covering the incident

AUGUST 13, 2014 —  Coast Guard Sector New Orleans is investigating a multiple vessel collision on the Mississippi River, near the Gretna ferry landing, early Wednesday.

Watchstanders received a report, late Tuesday evening, after the 56,526 dwt Maltese-flagged bulker Flag Gangos lost power and steering near mile marker 97.4 on the Lower Mississippi River.

The Flag Gangos, which is managed by Golden Union Enterprises of Piraeus, Greece, collided with the 105,535 dwt Liberian-flagged tanker Pamisos, managed by Athens, Greece, headquartered Pleiades Shipping and the Blessey Marine barge Web 235, both moored at the International Matex Tank Terminals conducting transfer operations.

The crew of the Blessey Marine towing vessel Capt. Shawn D. Martinez was transferring number six fuel oil from the barge when the barge broke free causing some oil to be discharged into the river from the transfer hose. The hose was shut off immediately following the incident.

Responders on scene deployed boom in the area of the incident. Both the vessel Pamisos and the barge sustained damage, no injuries were reported.

Coast Guard Captain of the Port, New Orleans, has implemented one-way traffic in the vicinitiy of the International Matex Tank Terminals near Gretna.

A Coast Guard Station New Orleans boatcrew and Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew are on scene to assist as needed.

The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the incident.