The following is the text of a news report from The Times-Picayune:
(HARVEY, La.) — The Lapalco Bridge in Harvey suffered minor damage Friday night (Oct. 25) when a towboat pushing barges struck the span, the Coast Guard said. A deckhand was at the helm of the Razorback with no licensed captain aboard at the time of the collision, according to Coast Guard spokesman Carlos Vega.
The Razorback, owned by Specialty Marine Services, was traveling westbound pushing two crane and deck barges through the Harvey Canal when it hit the bridge around 11 p.m., Vega said.
The bridge's catwalk was damaged in the collision.
The waterway remained open to remain traffic and no pollution was reported, Vega said.
Authorities restricted the Razorback's operation Friday until a licensed captain was on board and his credentials verified by the Coast Guard, Vega said.
