High water on the US Mississippi river keeps on reducing shipping traffic, in light of the flood warning still in effect for river areas north of St Louis, Missouri, limiting the size of tows in New Orleans, Louisiana and making the discharge conditions of import vessels difficult, reports ICIS author, Lane Kelley.
The US Coast Guard published an alert for towboats, warning them for very strong currents at the Lower Mississippi River. Namely, three marine casualties led to the sinking of towing vessels, while one of them resulted in a fatality. USCG says that it is vital for vessel operators to provide a wide berth when maneuvering around any other vessel or object.
The NTSB issued an investigation report on the flooding and sinking of the towing vessel ‘Nancy C’ on Lower Mississippi River, near Dyersville, Tennessee, in March 2018. The investigation identified poor maintenance as key cause of the incident.
The US Coast Guard informed that it suspended its search for a person who went into the water after a 54-foot towing vessel capsized at mile marker 55 on the lower Mississippi River north of Point A La Hache, Louisiana, on March 18. US Coast Guard crews searched around 158 square-nautical miles for about 18 hours but were unable to find the missing person.
The US Coast Guard informed that is searching for a person in the water after a towing vessel capsized at mile marker 55 on the lower Mississippi River north of Point A La Hache, Louisiana, on March 18. At the time of the incident, the boat had three people on board. Two of them were recovered, while one is still missing. The cause of the incident is still under investigation.
The towing vessel ‘Michelle Anne’ sank at Baton Rouge General Anchorage, Mississippi River, while pushing an empty dry cargo barge, on Thursday morning. The video shows the vessel catching crossways on an anchored ship shortly after.
An oil sheen was reported after the towing vessel ‘St. Rita’ sank on the Mississippi River near Laplace, Louisiana, Thursday. The US Coast Guard and good Samaritans responded to the sinking. The St. Rita is estimated to have approximately 13,000 gallons of diesel onboard.
As the Gard Club informs, high water and strong currents in the Mississippi River can lead to delays and additional costs being incurred. The high-water season is often said to run from December to May, with the highest water being usually seen from February to May. However, this is not the only high water season, as high water can take place at many times and has sometimes lasted from January until August.
The U.S. Coast Guard and local agencies are looking for two people in the water near Bootheville, Louisiana after the support boat they were on capsized during a training exercise involving the oil spill response vessel Louisiana ‘Responder’. The vessel had five workers onboard. Although three were rescued, two are still missing.
The US Coast Guard responded to a grounded vessel in the Lower Mississippi River near New Orleans, on Friday, January 4. The UK-flagged Anglo Alexandria had grounded in the Mississippi River at mile marker 3.5. The Mississippi River has reopened after the refloating of the bulk carrier.
