(NEW ORLEANS) — The U.S. Coast Guard is responding after two vessels, the freighter Pac Dubhe and bulk carrier African Buzzard, collided and subsequently grounded near mile marker 124.5 on the Mississippi River on Monday.
African Buzzard is currently aground. The two vessels are entangled, with African Buzzard’s anchor lodged in the bow of Pac Dubhe. Both vessel operators are conducting comprehensive assessments to develop salvage plans for submission to the Coast Guard and have tugboats alongside.
There are no reported injuries to crewmembers, no observable environmental impact or pollution, and the Mississippi River remains open to vessel traffic.
The Coast Guard has implemented a speed restriction for vessels transiting the area near mile marker 124.5, which is near Hahnville, La.
The Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board are conducting a joint investigation into the cause of the incident.
– U.S. Coast Guard
