Coast Guard Responds to Sunken Vessel Near Commodore Dock

A unified command has been established in response to a report of a vessel that sank, Friday, following an allision with a piling near Commodore Dock in Marrero.

Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector New Orleans command center received notification at 12:10 a.m., reporting that the uninspected towing vessel, Altro Donna with three crewmembers aboard, while transiting downbound pushing eight empty red-flag barges, allided with a piling and sank at Commodore Dock. The Altro Donna reportedly had a tank onboard with an estimated 11,500 gallons of diesel fuel and 52 gallons of lube oil.

Pictured here is an overflight assessment of the site of the sunken towing vessel Altro Donna.

All three crewmembers disembarked safely before the vessel sank.

Currently on scene are five pollution responders from Sector New Orleans and five response personnel from ES & H, as well as one 26-foot response boat from ES & H.

The unified command consists of the U.S. Coast Guard, the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and the Jefferson Parish Department of Environmental Affairs to oversee cleanup operations and mitigate potential damage to the environment.

"The unified command is working with stakeholders to mitigate pollution impacts, prevent additional pollution and mount a safe and effective salvage of the sunken vessel," said Cmdr. Russ Bowen, federal incident commander.

No injuries were reported.

The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the incident.

Crews load an additional 400 feet of boom to a response vessel at the site the sunken towing vessel Altro Donna.

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Source: United States Coast Guard