What Crew Members Say About Advantage-Atom

The tanker 'Privocean', which incurred slight damages during a recent triple allision, has been assessed as seaworthy and departed its temporary anchorage near mile post 162 on the evening of April 8. The following day, April 9, it anchored at the Grandview location close to Gramercy, approximately 12 to 14 miles downstream from the incident site. The U.S. Coast Guard announced the lifting of shipping restrictions across a 3-mile section of the Mississippi River in St. James Parish. By April 9, two-way navigation was fully reinstated between mileposts 160 and 163 in the Convent region. Initially, the Coast Guard had enabled two-way traffic the previous evening once 'Privocean' had been moved outside the crash zone. However, some periodic traffic disruptions were implemented late April 8 and into April 9 to ensure the safety of salvage operation workers on the 'Bravo'. This tanker, which has yet to receive clearance for departure, was relocated by tugboats from Ergon terminal in St. James on the afternoon of April 9 to an anchorage approximately 5 to 7 miles upriver of the accident site at Burnside, situated south of the Sunshine Bridge. Underwater divers successfully removed a mooring line entangled around the vessel's propeller and rudder. While the damage to the ballast tanks does not pose a stability risk, repairs are necessary. The crew has pumped out ballast water from the vessel. The full extent of the damages and required repair work will be determined after a thorough survey of the 'Bravo'. The vessel 'Texas', which ran aground near milepost 162 as a result of the incident, has been towed to dry-dock for inspection. Fortunately, the watertight integrity of its hull remains intact post-collision and grounding, and any water that had entered the vessel has since been removed. The owner of the tug, Crescent Towing based in New Orleans, is currently deliberating on the timing and location for the needed repairs. Thankfully, no further cleanup efforts for oil spills in the river were deemed necessary following evaluations that reported no recoverable oil as of April 7.

On April 6 at 10 p.m., the Lower Mississippi River resumed restricted navigation between mile markers 160 and 163. This announcement came after the U.S. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans deployed two shoreline assessment teams to evaluate potential impacts on the Mississippi's banks and search for recoverable oil products related to a recent discharge. On the morning of April 7, an aerial survey was conducted, revealing only a minor sheen near the incident site between mile markers 165 and 80, with no other oil presence identified. Furthermore, a 45-foot response boat from Coast Guard Station New Orleans commenced a detailed shoreline assessment, beginning at mile marker 96 and heading upstream. Reports from these teams indicated no recoverable product and no pollution incidents reported by facilities along the Lower Mississippi River. The Coast Guard maintained vigilant oversight of affected vessels downstream and assessed environmental risks arising from the incident. However, diving operations for an on-scene damage evaluation were temporarily halted due to low visibility concerns. The vessel "Privocean" was securely moored at Romeville, while the tugboat "Bravo" remained at an Ergon Inc. terminal in St. James Parish, under the watch of tugs "Admiral Jackson," "David J Cooper," "Linda Taylor," and "Mississippi." An investigation into underwater damage was suspended as of April 7 afternoon due to poor visibility, but initial assessments determined that while there were no breaches in cargo tanks, four ballast tanks were reported damaged. Following the accident, four crew members aboard the tug were taken to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries. The tug was observed taking on water and had pushed against the riverbank; it is currently en route to a Bollinger Shipyards facility for necessary repairs. For detailed visuals and updates, visit: http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/04/investigation_of_damage_to_ram.html

On April 6, 2015, a serious maritime incident unfolded on the lower Mississippi River near Convent, prompting a swift response from the U.S. Coast Guard. At around 4:00 p.m., the Coast Guard Sector New Orleans was alerted about a distressing situation involving the vessel 'Privocean,' which had become unmoored and subsequently drifted downstream. The 'Privocean' struck the towing vessel 'Texas,' a 98-foot vessel that was securely moored at the time. Fortunately, the crew aboard the 'Texas' was transported to a medical facility for evaluation, but no injuries were reported. Following this initial collision, the 'Privocean' continued its perilous drift and collided with the 'Bravo,' a tanker that was engaged in offloading crude oil. Fortunately, the 'Bravo' was able to initiate emergency shutdown protocols prior to being dislodged from its moorings, but not before an oil spill occurred. Post-collision, the 'Privocean' managed to get underway and anchored at mile marker 162, while the 'Bravo' was found approximately half a mile downstream, successfully secured with a two tug escort. In response to the unfolding situation, the U.S. Coast Guard closed the Mississippi River between mile marker 163 and mile marker 154 for safety reasons. Initial assessments indicated that the 'Texas' remained stable, with no water intrusion or oil leakage reported. Meanwhile, the 'Bravo' was being monitored closely; although it was stable, it was reported to be taking on water in its ballast tanks. Compounding the situation, the vessel’s propeller had become entangled with a mooring line, yet it remained secured with tug escorts. Addressing on-water safety, containment booms were deployed by an Oil Spill Response Organization to manage the spill. Coast Guard personnel, alongside OMI Environmental Services, initiated cleanup efforts following the incident. While approximately 126 gallons of oil were discharged on the deck of the 'Bravo,' initial evaluations revealed an estimated 420 gallons had spilled into the river. In light of the situation, the Coast Guard promptly notified downstream parish officials to safeguard municipal water supplies. Currently, the U.S. Coast Guard is closely monitoring the condition of all three vessels and the surrounding areas, and is actively assessing any potential environmental impacts caused by the collisions. The investigation into the cause of this incident remains ongoing. For further details and photographs, you can visit the following links: http://news.list-online.com/runaway-ship-rams-two-others-on-mississippi-river-causing-oil-spill-nbcnews-com/ and http://www.wsmv.com/story/28734155/oil-leaks-after-vessel-collision-on-mississippi-river.