What Crew Members Say About Isla-De-Bioko

On the evening of April 27, 2025, the freight vessel 'Isla De Bioko,' carrying a load of urea and navigating from Rotterdam, was involved in a significant collision with barges being towed by the tugboat 'Ginny Rose' on the Mississippi River. The incident, which occurred at approximately 9:20 p.m., resulted in one barge sinking and six others becoming adrift while they were headed downstream from St. Rose, Louisiana. The river conditions were reportedly treacherous at the time of the collision. In response to the emergency, the Coast Guard rapidly deployed nearby assisting tugboats, which were able to recover four of the drifting barges. However, two barges became entangled in the anchor chains of the moored vessel 'Red Fin' (IMO: 9607306), which had arrived at position 29° 56' N 090° 09' W on April 22, after coming from Vistino. The second barge, the 'Bulker Bee 30' (IMO: 9489986), had departed from New Orleans on May 9, heading to Veracruz, where it docked on May 11. To ensure safety, the Coast Guard temporarily closed the navigation channel from mile marker 108 to 111, as crews evaluated the risks posed by the sunken barge. By April 28 at 3 p.m., after confirming that the depth at the sunken barge location was safe for passage, and once the final two barges had been retrieved, the channel was reopened with certain restrictions in place. A subsequent survey by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers revealed that the wreckage of the sunken barge was situated approximately 75 feet below the water's surface. An official investigation has commenced, and salvage operations for the sunken barge are currently being planned. Complicating recovery efforts, elevated water levels on the river continue to create challenges for marine traffic. Following the incident, the 'Isla De Bioko' resumed its journey, departing New Orleans again on April 28 towards Baton Rouge, where it arrived on May 1, before setting sail back to Rotterdam, with an estimated time of arrival set for May 23.