Pushboat sinks at Louisiana fuel dock

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The following is the text of a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard:

(NEW ORLEANS) — The Coast Guard is responding to a vessel that sunk near Venice, La., on Wednesday.

Watch standers at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report at 8:05 a.m. that the vessel Gracie Claire sank at a fuel dock at mile marker 2 in Tiger Pass on the Mississippi River.

The vessel has approximately 2,300 gallons of diesel fuel aboard.

Sheen has been reported coming from the vessel, and approximately one mile of shoreline has been affected.

ES&H, an oil spill response organization, has contained the spilled fuel with containment boom. They have also lined portions of shoreline with sorbent boom, and deployed two drum skimmers.

The Coast Guard is monitoring the situation.

The cause of the incident is under investigation.

Editor's note: Gracie Claire is a pushboat operated by Triple S Marine of Morgan City, La.

By Professional Mariner Staff