Barge MF12; Mississippi River

Mississippi River | 1996-Jun-21

Initial Notification: At approximately 0420 CDT 21 June 1996, the barge MF12 released an estimated 500 barrels of heavy marine diesel fuel (IFO 180) into the Mississippi River near Mile Marker 62. This is approximately 20 nm south of New Orleans. The downbound Barge MF12 was being pushed by the towing vessel REGINA H. The upbound CREOLE RIVERS pushing two barges collided with the barge MF12 causing a ~25 ft gash in the #2 cargo tank. SSC LCDR Ilene Byron stated that there was a 4000 barrel potential spill from MF12. The towing vessels and the upbound barges are apparently not leaking. The US Coast Guard has classified this as a potential major spill. - - NOAA HAZMAT's Scientific Support Coordinator, LCDR Ilene Byron, is responding to the Coast Guard's request for scientific support for this spill incident. USCG district 8.