The following is the text of a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard (updated at 1819 on Jan. 18):
(NEW ORLEANS) — The cargo vessel Alliance St. Louis is in tow by a commercial salvage company on Wednesday after suffering an engine room fire approximately 150 miles south of Southwest Pass.
The tug Crosby Endeavor arrived on scene at 10:45 a.m. Tuesday with a fire team aboard to clear the Alliance St Louis’ engine room for safety. The tug put the cargo vessel in tow at approximately 2:30 p.m. Wednesday to take it to Sabine Bank Pilot Station near Port Arthur, Texas.
The Coast Guard and good Samaritans responded to the report of a vessel on fire approximately 135 miles southwest of Southwest Pass, La., on Monday.
Coast Guard cutter Brant crew arrived on scene at approximately 6 a.m. Tuesday to relieve the good Samaritan vessel Mariya Moran from standing by for safety.
No injuries or pollution have been reported.
The cause of the incident is under investigation.
PREVIOUS REPORT
(NEW ORLEANS) — The Coast Guard and good Samaritans are responding to the report of a vessel on fire approximately 150 miles south of Southwest Pass, La., on Monday.
Watch standers at the 8th Coast Guard District command center received a report at 3:28 a.m. from the National Command Center of an electrical fire in the engine room of the motor vessel Alliance St Louis, a roll-on/roll-off vehicle carrier.
Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile launched an HC-144 Ocean Sentry air crew who conducted an overflight of the vessel and confirmed that the fire had been extinguished by the crewmembers.
No injuries or pollution has been reported.
Alliance St. Louis is currently on emergency power and drifting approximately 135 miles southwest of Southwest Pass with 20 crewmembers aboard and safely accounted for.
A good Samaritan integrated tug, Mariya Moran, is on scene with the vessel. Alliance St. Louis is currently awaiting the tug Crosby Endeavor to arrive on scene to tow the vessel to Port Arthur, Texas.
At approximately 10 a.m. Coast Guard cutter Brant got underway to provide additional assistance and to relieve Mariya Moran.
