The US Coast Guard is responding to a sunken vessel on the Lower Mississippi River near Donaldsonville, Louisiana. The towing vessel, Vincent J. Eymard, has been located at mile marker 176.4 on the Lower Mississippi River.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report that the towing vessel Vincent J Eymard capsized on the Lower Mississippi River.
The crew departed the vessel onto the towing vessel Ellysa with no reported injuries. The Ellysa also took the one empty barge the Vincent J Eymard was towing. The capsized vessel has approximately 3,000 gallons of diesel fuel onboard.
As a result, a waterway restriction has been issued from mile marker 175.9 to mile marker 176.9 requiring one-way traffic.
USCG has used the Louisiana Waterways Warning Network to notify cities and parishes that have water intakes below the location on the Lower Mississippi River of the incident so they can be aware of the situation.
There are no reports of pollution or environmental impacts, as a result of the incident, and its cause is under investigation.
Last week another vessel also capsized in the Mississippi River. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report that the towing vessel ‘Natalie Jean’ capsized with three people aboard. The good Samaritan vessel ‘Earl Gonsoulin’ rescued one person. Missing remain Malon Dawsey and Karl Prince.