Mobile Ship Channel News

Salvage teams and the Army Corps of Engineers have positively identified the location of the sunken Dredge Tender NICHOLAS on the western (greenside) toe of the Mobile Ship Channel just south of Light 69. According to the U.S. Coast, Sector Mobile, Marine Safety and Security Information Bulletin No.19-14, the Captain of the Port has lifted the previous vessel size restrictions imposed in the MSSB 18-14. The Mobile Ship Channel is still restricted to one-way traffic in the vicinity of the wrecked vessels and all vessel traffic is to keep well to the east (red side) of the channel in the vicinity of this location until further notice. All mariners are to use extreme caution and safe speed while transiting Light 69 and those vessels conducting salvage operations in that vicinity.

The U.S. Coast Guard said it is responding to two sunken vessels in Mobile Ship Channel north of Gaillard Island, Tuesday. Coast Guard Sector Mobile watchstanders received a call from the crew of the towing vessel, Miss Sammy Lee, reporting the sinking of two vessels, the 52-foot towing vessel Delta Amber, and the 26-foot dredging vessel Nicholas. The Miss Sammy Lee crew rescued the crews from both vessels Monday evening around 10:46 p.m. A Coast Guard Station Dauphin Island small boat crew safely transferred the crewmembers of both sunken vessels from the Miss Sammy Lee to the Dog River Marina. There were no reported injuries. Response crews report a 50 yard by one mile sheen in the area of the incident.

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) reopened the Mobile Ship Channel to all deep-draft commercial vessel traffic at approximately 5 p.m. Monday. The USCG restricted vessel traffic at about 3 a.m. Monday, after the container vessel MSC KYOTO grounded outside the channel. MSC KYOTO's owner contracted the towing vessels Hawk and Escambia to assist in freeing the vessel. In combination with high tide, the two tugs were able to tow the vessel back into the channel after more than 12 hours aground. There are still no reports of pollution or injuries.

More than 2,580 people have been rescued off of rooftops and flooded neighborhoods since rescue operations began Monday, and joint-agency rescue operations are continuing through the day and night. The Coast Guard’s primary focus along the Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana coast will remain search and rescue as long as necessary. Coast Guard assets continue to arrive in the impacted areas. There are 25 cutters off the Gulf Coast, in the rivers, and in the ports and waterways. The Coast Guard cutters Pelican, Cypress and Spencer are currently transiting the Mississippi River to New Orleans to establish a command and control presence and provide a flight deck, fuel and communications to the search and rescue assets in and around New Orleans.