The following is text of a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard:
(NEW ORLEANS) — The Coast Guard has reopened the Lower Mississippi River at mile marker 3.5 with restrictions near New Orleans on Friday.
Coast Guard Sector New Orleans has reopened the Lower Mississippi River at mile marker 3.5 to vessels with a draft of 30 feet or less, following the grounding of the 837-foot deep-draft vessel Anglo Alexandria.
Watch standers at Sector New Orleans received a report at 8:32 a.m. Friday that the Anglo Alexandria ran aground. The vessel has since been moved out of the channel.
There are no current reports of pollution or injuries.
The cause of the incident is under investigation.
PREVIOUS REPORT
(NEW ORLEANS) — The Coast Guard is responding to a grounded vessel Friday in the Lower Mississippi River near New Orleans.
Coast Guard Sector New Orleans watch standers received a report at 8:32 a.m. that the 837-foot U.K.-flagged deep-draft vessel Anglo Alexandria (formerly Baroque, Chiara, et al) had grounded in the Mississippi River at mile marker 3.5.
The vessel is currently blocking the navigation channel and a tug is currently on scene. The river is closed at mile marker 3.5.
There are currently over 50 vessels waiting in queue to transit in or out of the river. This number is larger than normal due to dense fog in the area over the last few days. The vessel has activated its vessel response plan.
There are no current reports of pollution or injuries.
The cause of the incident is under investigation.
