Finding fault on the Mississippi

摘要

Millions of dollars are at stake in an accident that occurred earlier this year involving a collision between a bulker and a tanker on the Lower Mississippi River, while the US Coast Guard tries to determine who - if anyone - is at fault. The accident occurred on the afternoon of 6 April, when the Bariba Corporation-owned 81,434 dwt bulker, Privocean, broke loose from its moorings, drifted across the river, and struck the Geden Lines-owned 116,014dwt tanker, Bravo, which had been offloading crude oil at the time. For approximately 45 minutes, the bulker pushed Bravo into the oil terminal, ripping through the ship berth and into its barge berth, according to Ergon-St James, the terminal's owner and operator. In addition, one of two tugs that had been providing extra support to Privocean, Crescent Towing & Salvage-owned Texas, was not able to get clear in time and was pinned between the two ships.