Tow vessel blocking La. channel

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard is responding to a sunken towing vessel in Pass a Loutre near Venice, La., which began after 2 a.m. April 15. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report of the towing vessel Dejeanne Maria, pushing two empty dry cargo barges, traveling down-river on the Mississippi, when it struck a submerged object. Three people aboard was transferred to the towing vessel, Supporter 1. An assist tug was enroute to retrieve the barges. The Dejeanne Maria is submerged with its port side above the water, and blocking the Pass a Loutre channel. A maximum of 7,000 gallons of oil was onboard. Sixty gallons was potentially spilled into the water. CG’s incident management team was mobilized to conduct a shoreline assessment. ES&H was contracted to respond and deployed boom around the sunken vessel. An ES&H air drone and CG overflight observed no active discharge of oil. The incident is under investigation. (Source: Coast Guard 04/15/19)