(NEW ORLEANS) — The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating a collision between a bulk carrier and a towboat Sunday night that resulted in five mariners being rescued from the Mississippi River near Luling, La., NOLA.com reported.
The towboat, the 87-foot Patrick J. Studdert, sank after the collision with the bulker Clara B., according to Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Anthony Randisi. The five crewmembers who were aboard the towboat were rescued by other vessels in the area, authorities said. They were taken to an area hospital for evaluation and released.
The collision occurred at 7:39 p.m. near mile marker 123, just upriver from the Hale Boggs Memorial Bridge, according to St. Charles Parish President Matt Jewell. The Coast Guard closed the river from 7:40 p.m. to 10:40 p.m. Sunday between mile markers 120 and 123, Randisi said. The river was open and marine traffic was flowing Monday morning.
The towboat sank in a part of the river that is 90 feet deep, Randisi said. Coast Guard officials could not confirm what led to the collision but said they sent a team to the site to investigate.
The Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources conducted flyovers of the area Monday and detected a silvery diesel sheen on the river, according to the agency and the Coast Guard. Crews deployed containment boom.
