Two Missing After Towboat Capsizes on Mississippi
The towboat Natalie Jean capsized and sank on the Mississippi on Monday morning, and the U.S. Coast Guard is still searching for two of her three crewmembers.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report at 0943 that the Natalie Jean had capsized near Algiers at river mile 90.5. Three people were on board at the time of the incident, and the good Samaritan vessel Earl Gosling rescued one person at the scene.
One Coast Guard helicopter aircrew, one cutter and one patrol boat are participating in a search. The USCG has the assistance of the New Orleans Harbor Police, the Plaquemines Port Authority, the Corps of Engineers, NOAA and two local sheriff's offices. The response command has closed the Mississippi to navigation for one mile on either side of the accident.
The New Orleans Fire Department reported Monday afternoon that the capsize was the result of a collision. The Coast Guard says that the cause of the incident is under investigation.
The Natalie Jean has about 600 gallons of diesel fuel on board, but as of Monday afternoon there were no signs of a spill, the Coast Guard reported.