Coast Guard Responds to Ship Collision

The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating the cause of a collision between two ships that occurred at the IMTT Myrtle Grove facility near Point A La Hache, La. The collision occurred between the Heidelberg Express, a 773-foot German container ship, and the Yerot Sakos, a 737-foot Liberian cargo ship full of iron ore. The Heidelberg Express experienced a loss of power when traveling outbound at mile marker 57 along the Lower Mississippi River, and the crew of the Heidelberg Express dropped both anchors in an attempt to stop the vessel. There were no reports of injuries or pollution at the time of the incident and the waterway remains open and unrestricted. Investigators from Coast Guard Sector New Orleans are on scene to investigate the cause of the collision.