Multi Ship Collision Causes Oil Spill And Closes Mississippi River

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Multi Ship Collision Causes Oil Spill And Closes Mississippi River

About 420 gallons of oil spilled into the Mississippi River near Convent after  three ships collided  on Monday (April 6), according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

The cause of the collision is under investigation.

The Times-Picayune reports: Coast Guard officials said the Privocean, a 751-foot bulk carrier, broke free from its mooring, drifted downriver and struck the Texas, a 98-foot towing vessel. The Texas was moored at the time.

The Privocean continued to drift down river and struck the Bravo, an 816-foot tank ship, as it was unloading crude oil. That caused an oil spill, both on deck and in the river, Coast Guard officials said.

About 420 gallons of oil spilled into the river, and about 126 gallons spilled on the Bravo’s deck, the Coast Guard said. The oil spill on deck was contained and is being cleaned, officials said.

The ship is taking on water, but is anchored by two tugboats.

The Privocean is anchored at mile marker 162.

Officials said the Mississippi River is closed from mile marker 163 to mile marker 154. The Coast Guard said it has informed down-river parish officials to protect municipal water supplies.