Marine Safety Office New Orleans

U.S. Coast Guard

Press Release

Date: June 15, 2005

Contact:
Lt. Cmdr. Cheri Ben-Iesau
(504) 628-4309
Tom Mackenzie
U.S. Fish and Wildlife
(404) 679-7291

AGENCIES WORK TOGETHER TO CLEANUP OIL, RECOVER IMPACTED WILDLIFE

NEW ORLEANS - The U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Amerada Hess Corporation are working together today to cleanup an oil spill and recover impacted wildlife at a rookery on West Breton Island.

More than 75 people are on scene to recover the released oil and to aid in the recovery of the affected wildlife. Containment boom and absorbent pads have been deployed on site and the Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research, the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education, and the International Bird Rescue Research Center have established a rehabilitation site in Venice, La., to care for oiled birds.

Workers recovered 281 brown pelicans, 90 of these birds have died. Another 600 birds are expected to be recovered today. Initial reports indicate 400 to 1,000 birds have been contaminated.

"We are deeply concerned about this unfortunate incident and we are taking all possible steps to respond," said Gerald Bresnick, Vice President, Environment, Health and Safety Amerada Hess Corporation. "We will continue to work closely with all federal and state agencies to mitigate this situation as quickly as possible."

A restricted zone has been established for aircraft and vessels; aircraft are not permitted within five miles of the site and vessels within two miles.

The U.S. Coast Guard was notified of the oil spill Sunday morning when workers returned to an Amerada Hess operated platform that was evacuated in advance of Tropical Storm Arlene. An estimated 560 gallons of oil was released.

The incident is under investigation.

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Marine Safety Office New Orleans

U.S. Coast Guard

Press Release

Date: May 20, 2005

Contact: PO Joshua Fahrenholt-Hunt
(504) 589-4242 X265

COAST GUARD KICKS OFF NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK

NEW ORLEANS - The U. S. Coast Guard is scheduled to kick off the annual National Safe Boating Week event at the Kenner boat launch Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The public is invited to watch boating related demonstrations by local law enforcement agencies including: a mock pursuit of a BUI suspect on a jet ski; a collision and rescue; and a smoke bomb demonstration.

National Safe Boating Week, which runs from May 21-27, has traditionally marked the start of the North American Safe Boating Campaign. This years slogan, "Boat Smart. Boat Safe. Wear It." reflects the campaign's emphasis on the importance of wearing lifejackets.

The Sea Partners, an environmental awareness and outreach program created to provide school children with information about protecting the marine environment will have a booth at the event. America's Waterway Watch, an outreach program designed to urge Americans who live, work, or recreate on or near the water to be aware of any suspicious activity that might indicate threats to our homeland will also be in attendance.

Click here for more information about boating safety.

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Marine Safety Office New Orleans

U.S. Coast Guard

Press Release

Date: May 12, 2005

Contact:  Lt. Cmdr. Cheri Ben-Iesau
(504) 589-6261

COAST GUARD RESPONDS TO BARGE FIRE IN WEST PEARL RIVER

NEW ORLEANS- The Coast Guard is responding to the scene of a barge fire near the intersection of Highway 90 and Highway 190 today in West Pearl River about five miles southeast of Slidell, La.

Personnel from Coast Guard Marine Safety Office New Orleans are on the scene of the Coastal II, a 200-foot long tank barge that reportedly caught fire while moored at the Pearl River Navigation Facility this afternoon.

Local fire response units are on scene and have extinguished the fire.  The barge, reportedly empty, has a history of being used to transport asphalt.  The barge reportedly caught fire due to welding operations.

There are no reports of injuries or pollution at this time.  The incident is under investigation by MSO New Orleans.

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Marine Safety Office New Orleans

U.S. Coast Guard

Press Release

Date: Feb. 10, 2005

Contact: Lt. Todd Peterson
(225) 298-5400
PA3 Stacey Pardini
(504) 589-6287

COAST GUARD RESPONDS TO VESSEL COLLISION

BATON ROUGE, La. - Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Baton Rouge personnel are responding to a collision that occurred today at about 9:25 a.m. on the Mississippi River at mile marker 179 near Donaldsonville, La.

The collision involved the towing vessel CSS Arkansas, that was northbound and pushing seven barges, and the 737-foot Greek-flagged motor vessel Rodon Amarandon, also northbound and carrying pig iron.  

Following the collision the CSS Arkansas and one of the barges, loaded with coke, a non-hazardous substance, sank. All four crew members who were aboard the CSS Arkansas were rescued by good samaritans and transported to local hospitals as a precautionary measure.  All other barges were safely recovered.  Early assessments report minor damage to the Rodon Amarandon and a light sheen in the vicinity of the location where the CSS Arkansas sank.  No pollution or injuries are reported from the Rodon Amarandon.

The Rodon Amarandon became temporarily grounded and is now enroute to White Castle Anchorage at mile marker 188.

Coast Guard personnel from MSU Baton Rouge are aboard the vessel surveying the damage and conducting an investigation.  Investigators are also enroute to local hospitals to interview the crew of the CSS Arkansas.

The Coast Guard has established a safety zone, closing the river to marine traffic, between mile markers 177 and 180 until the sunken vessels are located and verified they do not pose a hazard to navigation.

The Coast Guard is working closely with the Army Corps of Engineers to survey the channel before the determination is made to reopen the channel to vessel traffic.

The Coast Guard is conducting an investigation.

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Marine Safety Office New Orleans

U.S. Coast Guard

Press Release

Date: Jan. 04, 2005

Contact:  PA3 Stacey Pardini
(504) 589-6287 or
(504) 319-2229

TANKER ACCIDENT UPDATE

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard is continuing its investigation into an accident earlier today where a 793-foot tanker struck a pier on the west bank of the Mississippi River in Westwego, La. 

There were no reports of injuries ashore or on the Maltese-flagged tanker Tsunami.  A Coast Guard helicopter overflight observed minor sheening in the area, possibly a result of damage to the S.T. Services pier.

Drug and alcohol tests have been administered and the results are pending.

The Tsunami, which was carrying an estimated 20 million gallons of sweet crude oil, reportedly has a 3-foot gash above the waterline along the hull's port side.  There have been no reports of pollution from the vessel.

Contracted clean-up workers are responding to the release of caustic soda that was leaking into the river from broken piping at the pier.

A watchstander at the Marine Safety Office in New Orleans received a report of the collision from an individual on scene at about 11 a.m.  Coast Guard and other local agencies immediately responded to the incident.

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Marine Safety Office New Orleans

U.S. Coast Guard

Press Release

Date: Jan. 04, 2005

Contact:  PA3 Stacey Pardini(504) 589-6287 or
(504) 319-2229

COAST GUARD INVESTIGATING TANKER ACCIDENT ON MISSISSIPPI RIVER

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard is investigating the report of a vessel striking a pier in Westwego, La., today.

The Coast Guard was notified by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office at about 11:45 a.m. today that they had received a report that the tanker Tsunami appeared to be out of control on the river and had struck a marine terminal along the west bank of the Mississippi River, near Westwego.

The Tsunami, a tanker approximately 790-feet long, is currently anchored at mile marker 102 near Westwego.

A light sheen has been reported in the area, but the source of the sheening has not been identified. 

Marine investigators from the Coast Guard's Marine Safety Office in New Orleans are responding and will investigate the cause of the accident.  A helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans is conducting over flights to search for any possible pollution.

Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

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Marine Safety Office New Orleans

U.S. Coast Guard

Press Release

Date: Sept. 23, 2004

Contact:  PA3 Tara Mitchell
(504) 589-6287

MARINE SAFETY OFFICE WORKS WITH AGENCIES IN OIL SPILL CLEAN UP

NEW ORLEANS - Coast Guard Marine Safety Office New Orleans, along with other state and federal officials, are working today to clean up an oil spill near Raphael Pass, La.

Approximately 17,000 gallons of crude oil were released from a Gulf  Production, Inc.storage tank, damaged by Hurricane Ivan, located in the Delta National Wildlife Refuge.

MSO, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, NOAA and Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality officials have determined that the safest way to remove the oil from the marshes is to cut the plantlife in the contaminated area and then clean up the oil. The recovery is estimated to take at least seven days.

There have been no reports of injury to animals as a result of this spill.

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Marine Safety Office New Orleans

U.S. Coast Guard

Press Release

Date: March 1, 2004

Contact:  Lt. Cmdr. Greg Depinet
(504) 589-4240 or PA1 Jaime Bigelow (252) 207-4110

U.S. COAST GUARD CONVENES FORMAL INVESTIGATION

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard is scheduled to convene a formal investigation on Tuesday to gather information into the collision between the offshore vessel Lee III and motor vessel Zim Mexico III.  The fact finding inquiry, which is presided over by a one-person board, will take place in the Loyola Room at the Hyatt Regency Hotel (next to the Superdome) on Poydras Street beginning at 1 p.m. Tuesday and will continue through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.  The investigation will be open to the public and the media.

Due to the solemnity of the investigation, media are asked to designate one pooled video camera and one pooled still photographer for the opening statement at the start of the board.  Cameras and other electronic recording devices will not be allowed in the Loyola Room for the remainder of the proceedings, however, reporters will be permitted to attend and take notes. 

A Coast Guard formal investigation is a fact-finding inquiry where all testimony is recorded and taken under oath.  All information gathered from the investigation will be compiled and organized into an official report and sent to Coast Guard Headquarters for review. 

Any media interested in attending the inquiry are asked to call Petty Officer 1^st Class Jaime Bigelow at (252) 207-4110. 

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