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.

###