M/V Durdy Dudley, and Pat Salvaggio, collision; Morgan City, Louisiana

Morgan City, Louisiana | 1992-May-15

Initial Notification: On May 15, 1992, the motor vessel Durdy Dudley, towing a 240-foot barge carrying 18,000 gallons of crude oil condensate, collided with the motor vessel Pat Salvaggio, towing a barge carrying propylene. The accident occurred at mile marker 115 of the Intracoastal Waterway west of Morgan City, Louisiana. The two vessels were traveling in opposite directions when they collided. The crude oil barge was damaged and lost approximately 13,000 gallons of its cargo. The propylene barge was also damaged but did not lose any product. Initially, booms were placed around the barge to contain the still-leaking product. Because of the explosion hazard posed by the very light condensate, these booms were removed shortly after deployment to allow the product to disperse downstream. USCG district 8. Keyword: none.