Oil Spill Shuts Down Part of Mississippi River Near New Orleans

Feb. 24

A 65-mile stretch of the Mississippi near New Orleans remained closed Monday after two vessels collided and caused an oil spill on Saturday, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

The Lindsay Ann Erickson crashed with the Hannah C. Settoon, which was pushing two barges carrying barrels of light crude oil that spilled into the river, U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Bill Colclough told NBC News.

The vessel crash happened in foggy conditions, about 30 miles west of New Orleans, according to NBC affiliate,WDSU.

On Monday, cleanup and shoreline assessments kept the oil-glazed area closed, Colclough said. A helicopter would possibly monitor the situation later in the day, Calclough said, adding that the section would remain closed “until further notice.”

No injuries were reported and the local water supply remained safe, Colclough said.

The source of the spill was secured early Sunday, but the Captain of the Port closed the contaminated area to prevent oil from spreading, the Coast Guard said in a statement.

— Elisha Fieldstadt

GERALD HERBERT / AP

In this aerial photo, river traffic is halted along the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Vacherie, La., due to a barge leaking oil in St. James Parish, La., Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. The collision happened Saturday afternoon near Vacherie.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/oil-spill-shuts-down-part-mississippi-river-near-new-orleans-n37081