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Coast Guard responding to vessel sinking in Intracoastal Waterway

Posted at 2:27 PM, May 02, 2019
and last updated 2019-05-02 15:27:51-04

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard is responding to a sunken vessel in the Intracoastal Waterway near Lafitte, Louisiana, Thursday.

Coast Guard Sector New Orleans watchstanders received a notification at 6:45 a.m. of the towing vessel Cindy R, pushing six barges, with three crewmembers aboard sinking at mile marker eight, west of the Harvey Lock on the Intracoastal Waterway.

The crewmembers boarded the towing vessel Elin Gertrude before the Cindy R sank. There were no reported injuries, according to a press release from the Coast Guard.

The Elin Gertrude picked up the Cindy R’s tow.

The release states that the Cindy R has 3,000 gallons of diesel aboard and absorbent boom was deployed to mitigate the spread of oil. A crane and barge are en route to commence salvage operations.

The waterway is open to marine traffic at a slow bell.

The cause of the incident is under investigation.