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Marine Safety Office New Orleans News

09 Jun 2015

Insights: Capt. Novotny, Commanding Officer, USCG National Maritime Center

Captain Jeffrey P. Novotny is Commanding Officer of the U.S. Coast Guard’s National Maritime Center in Martinsburg, WV. He is responsible for all activities related to professional credentialing, training and assessments of the nation’s 215,000 merchant mariners. He graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy with a degree in Mathematics and Computer Science. Prior to commanding the NMC, he was the Deputy Commander at the Coast Guard’s Deployable Operations Group. His duties included the oversight and responsibility for all personnel…

12 Sep 2003

Collapsed Mississippi Gulf Rig Leaves 8 Injured

Parker 14 J that collapsed off the Mississippi-Louisiana coast yesterday. (U.S. Coast Guard photo). The 41 people aboard an offshore drilling rig that collapsed off the Mississippi-Louisiana coast yesterday afternoon have been rescued. Eight people were injured in the accident and were taken by New Orleans-based Coast Guard helicopters to Gulfport Regional Airport for further transfer by awaiting EMS personnel to Gulfport Memorial Hospital. With the extent of the injuries still unknown…

23 Sep 2003

Coast Guard Investigates Diesel Spill

Coast Guard marine safety personnel are investigating a reported diesel fuel spill at mile marker 158 in the Lower Mississippi River, near St. James, La. Crewmembers of the tug Tom Jump, of St. Louis, Mo., were reportedly transferring fuel between compartments when approximately 950 gallons spilled into the water. Boom, which is a floating device used to contain oil, was deployed to control the spread of the product. There were no injuries reported. A broadcast will be issued on VHF-FM radio channel 16 to alert mariners of the spill. A helicopter crew from Air Station New Orleans is en route to provide an aerial survey of the spill site. Personnel from Marine Safety Office New Orleans will be investigating the incident.

23 Feb 2004

Cargo Ship, OSV Collide, 5 Missing

On Saturday U.S. Coast Guard crews were searching for five people missing after a vessel collison in the Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River near Venice, La. The upriver-bound 534-ft. cargo ship Zim Mexico III and the downbound 178-ft. offshore supply vessel LEE III reportedly collided at 5:20 a.m. After the collision, the LEE III capsized. A boatcrew from Coast Guard Station Venice, La., a helicopter crew from Air Station New Orleans and a jet crew from Aviation Training Center Mobile, Ala., are on scene searching for the five people reported to have been on the LEE III. Investigators from Marine Safety Office New Orleans are investigating the cause of the accident.

24 Feb 2004

Rescue Over, Salvage to Begin

The U.S. Coast Guard has concluded its search for five crewmen missing since their offshore supply vessel sank near Pilottown, La., Saturday, and is, as of Tuesday, February 24, overseeing recovery and salvage operations to safely remove the vessel from the Southwest Pass. The Coast Guard called off its search and rescue efforts at about 5 p.m. after a final search of the area failed to locate any survivors. Coast Guard assets have been continuously involved in the search since they arrived at the scene of the accident at 6:30 a.m. Saturday, February 21. Also assisting in the search were personnel and resources from Plaquemines Parish, the New Orleans Port Authority, the La. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Navy.

04 May 2004

ASA Presents “Rapid Response” Award

The American Salvage Association (ASA) awarded its first Rapid Response Award on April 29 to the United States Coast Guard Marine Safety Office (MSO) New Orleans for its role in the salvage of the M/V Lee III, a supply boat that collided with a container ship and sank near the Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River on February 21. Five crewmembers were lost in the incident. ASA member Bisso Marine commenced operations to remove the vessel. MSO New Orleans immediately established an open dialogue with the salvor, clearly stated all expectations and offered its full support. As the salvage operation progressed, the need to restore commerce was balanced with operational safety, recovery of the vessel’s crew-members and the protection of the environment.

04 Dec 2001

Coast Guard Investigates Bridge Allision

New Orleans -Coast Guard personnel and state officials investigated an incident where a crane barge floated away from its moorings at approximately 8 p.m. Sunday night and hit the Huey P. Long Bridge. No one was injured and the bridge was not damaged in the accident. The barge was originally moored at the Avondale Shipyard facility, with three smaller barges connected to it. The lines that moored the barge to the dock broke and it floated approximately 200-yards down river striking the bridge. The crane struck the underside of the bridge, snagging on some tension wires. The barge did not hit any of the stone foundations, supporting the bridge. The barge did partically block a portion of the ship channel, but vessel traffic was not seriously affected.

21 Jun 2002

Coast Guard Responds To Vessel Allision

Coast Guard personnel are responding to a vessel allision near the Poland Avenue Wharf at mile marker 92 on the Mississippi River. The motor vessel Genmar Constantine, a 757-ft. Liberian-flagged tanker carrying crude oil, allided with the USNS Cape Kennedy, a Naval cargo ship at approximately 7 a.m today.A Coast Guard 41-ft. rescue boat from Station New Orleans, an HH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter crew from Air Station New Orleans, and personnel from Marine Safety Office New Orleans are responding to the accident. The Cape Kennedy was moored beside the USNS Cape Knox near the Marine Forces Reserve building at the time of the accident. The Genmar Constantine was moored to the Cape Kennedy shortly after the accident. The river is open to vessel traffic.

08 Nov 2004

Master Charged with Operating Ship While Intoxicated

The Greek master of a commercial ship pleaded guilty and was charged Thursday with operating his vessel while intoxicated. Nikolaos Zografos was charged before a U.S. magistrate judge with being drunk while aboard the 580-foot freight ship Winner at St. John's Buoys, near Reserve, La. Zografos pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to one-year probation, restriction from being a master or licensed officer on any vessel in U.S. waters for the duration of his probation and received a $5,500 fine. On Oct. 28, contract workers cleaning cargo holds aboard Winner informed the Coast Guard that the master appeared intoxicated. Lt. Boris…

24 May 2005

Fire on Containership in New Orleans

Personnel from Coast Guard Marine Safety Office New Orleans and the New Orleans Fire Department responded to a two-alarm fire aboard a ship on the Mississippi River near the Napoleon Street Wharf yesterday. All personnel aboard the 560-foot German-flagged container ship Libra Rio Grand safely evacuated after a fire was reported in the boat's engine room around 10:45 a.m. The engine room was sealed, and the ship's fire CO2 extinguishing system put out the fire. MSO New Orleans sent a pollution response team, investigating officer, and a foreign vessel inspection team to the scene to investigate. An HH-65 Dolphin helicopter rescue crew was also dispatched to conduct an overflight assessment. Two crewmembers were taken to Charity Hospital with minor injuries. No pollution was reported.

23 May 2005

Intoxicated Master of Towing Vessel Sentenced

An Alabama resident and master of an inland towing vessel was sentenced Thursday for a January 2004 incident where he was found to be operating in U.S. waters under the influence of alcohol. Daniel L. Ferrell, 63, of Atmore Ala., was sentenced by Judge James J. Brady of the U.S. District Court in Baton Rouge, La., to serve two years probation, 100 hours of community service and will be required to participate in an alcohol assessment program. On Jan. 16, 2004, Ferrell was piloting the City of Port Allen when it struck the Brusly Railroad Lift Bridge on the Port Allen-Morgan City alternate route waterway. Investigators from the Coast Guard's Marine Safety Unit in Baton Rouge who responded to the initial incident tested Ferrell for alcohol.

06 Jul 2005

New Orleans – Port Condition ZULU

In preparation for gale force winds from Tropical Storm Cindy, USCG Marine Safety Office New Orleans has set Port Condition ZULU. In addition, the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GICW) has been closed from the Inner Harbor Canal to Mile Marker (MM) 60 east of Harvey Locks, Long Beach, Mississippi. Vessels and facilities are urged to take appropriate precautions. (HK Law)

07 Jul 2005

New Orleans – Port Condition ZULU cancelled

With the passing of Tropical Storm Cindy, USCG Marine Safety Office New Orleans has cancelled port Condition ZULU – at least for now. The GICW has also been reopened. (HK Law).

24 Sep 1999

Explosion and Grounding on Mississippi River

Champion Trader, a 531-ft. Panamanian flagged motor vessel, suffered an explosion in the engine room and immediately grounded itself in the mud. The explosion, near the port side fuel tank, ripped a 30-ft. hole in the hull from the waterline to the main deck. Approximately 3,700 gal. of heavy fuel oil was discharged into the river. One crewmember was killed, and four suffered injuries. The river was closed from mile marker 1 to 3 for approximately two hours. Cutter Pamlico served as an on-scene platform until barges were located to implement lightering operations. Marine Safety Office New Orleans deemed the environmental impact to be minimal. The internal transfer of cargo and bunker oil was conducted to ease pressure on the bulkhead.

23 May 2003

USCG Marine Safety Issues Bulletin

USCG Marine Safety Office New Orleans issued Marine Safety Bulletins reminding the maritime community that security zones are in effect for waters of the Mississippi River in New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Unless permitted by COTP New Orleans, vessels are prohibited from operating between Mile Marker 88 to Mile Marker 103 in the vicinity of New Orleans and from Mile Marker 229 to Mile Marker 234 in the vicinity of Baton Rouge. Recreational vessels and fishing vessels navigating the Intracoastal Waterway across the Mississippi River are encouraged to use the Algiers Locks instead of the Harvey Locks so as to avoid lengthy delays. (5/22/03). Source: HK Law

06 May 2003

Coast Guard Halts Carnival’s Holiday for Investigation

Coast Guard investigators, a law enforcement boarding team, and the Coast Guard Investigative Service are investigating the cruise ship, Holiday, after three separate breaches of security occurred Monday during the passenger embarkation process. The Coast Guard Captain of the Port New Orleans, Capt. Ron Branch, has ordered the Holiday to remain at the Julia Street Terminal until all passengers and luggage are screened again. Approximately 3 p.m. Monday, Coast Guard personnel aboard Holiday received a report from a passenger, also a policeman, that he left his handgun in his luggage. After locating and searching the luggage, the weapon, a .38-caliber handgun, was found and placed in a secure location. About an hour later, Holiday crewmembers discovered four bullets on a passageway floor.

25 Apr 2003

Coast Guard Responds to Vessel Collision

Investigators from Coast Guard Marine Safety Office New Orleans are responding this morning to a vessel collision at about mile marker 144 of the Lower Mississippi River near Garyville, La. towboat Cooperative Spirit, occurred at about 12:30 a.m. traffic. side. river. transfers of the product which mitigated further discharge. owner, Ceres Hellenic Shipping Ent. air monitoring tests. The Bow Lion is at anchorage at the LaPlace Anchorage in LaPlace, La. Xylene has been compared to paint thinner. drowsiness. the casualty.