Sunshine Bridge; New Orleans, LA

New Orleans, LA | 1993-Apr-10

Initial Notification: At about 2315, April 9, 1993, a barge pushed by the tug Dave Brassel struck the Sunshine Bridge at mile marker 167 on the Mississippi River, north of New Orleans, LA. Approximately 5,500 barrels of #6 fuel oil from the Texaco Convent Refinery, reportedly cut with diesel oil, was released from a forward tank of the barge. The damaged barge was placed on the west bank of the Mississippi and boomed quickly. The oil remaining onboard was transferred to a second barge. At about 1500, April, 10 1993, the leading edge of the oil passed through downtown New Orleans and was expected to continue south to the mouth of the Mississippi River. The oil continued down the river through April 13. Deflection boom was used in an attempt to collect some of the oil as it moved downriver, but response tools were ineffective. USCG district 8. Keyword: none.