T/B DC 353; Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Baton Rouge, Louisiana | 1991-Jan-09

Initial Notification: At approximately 1615 on January 9,1991, motor vessels BELGUIM and BILL, each pushing barges, were passing in heavy rain, poor visibility, and high waters when their barges collided. BELGUIM's tank barge DC 353, loaded with 10,500 barrels of 1,1,1-trichloroethane, was damaged and grounded on an island at mile marker 210 about 8 miles south of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The barge was lying on her port side with cargo leaking from one of the wing tanks at an unknown rate. The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) from the Marine Safety Office (MSO), New Orleans closed the river temporarily between mile markers 215 and 150 until the loose barges could be brought under control. The river was also closed between mile markers 212 and 210 to prevent further damage to DC 353 by the wakes of passing vessels. On January 10, Dow Chemical Company response personnel arrived on-scene to assess DC 353's condition. River conditions and stormy weather hampered activities and threatened further damage to the barge. USCG district 8.