US Coast Guard responds after freighter-bulk carrier collision in Mississippi River: All you need to know

The United States Coast Guard on Wednesday announced its response to a collision at the Mississippi River in New Orleans earlier this week between a freighter and a bulk carrier.

The collision between the two vessels—Pac Dubhe (IMO: 9304021), a freighter, and the bulk carrier African Buzzard (IMO: 9720225)—is said to have stuck them together, and also led to the latter running aground (getting stuck in shallow waters).

"Both vessel operators are conducting comprehensive assessments to develop salvage plans for submission to the Coast Guard and have tugboats alongside," the Coast Guard said in a statement detailing its response to the maritime accident.

The collision took place on Monday afternoon, as the Singaporean-flagged freighter was heading downstream from the Mississippi River in the direction of Panama. 

The Bahamian-flagged bulk carrier had been headed upstream, and at about 3:30 PM (local time), the two collided off the shores of Hahnville in Louisiana.

The Coast Guard pointed out that this had led to the anchor of the African Buzzard embedding itself in the bow of the Pac Dubhe, leaving the two vessels entangled. The bulk carrier then drifted out of the channel and ran aground. 

The Coast Guard also noted that the collision had not caused any injuries to crew members or observable environmental impact, and that the Mississippi River remained open for inland traffic.

A speed restriction for vessels transiting the inland waterway near mile marker 124.5 has also been enforced, in light of the collision, as the incident continues to be probed in a joint investigation by the Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).