TV Hyde Park; Mississippi River, Baton Rouge, mile marker 92, LA

Mississippi River, Baton Rouge, mile marker 92, LA | 1999-Feb-27

Initial Notification: On the morning of February 27, 1999 the HAZMAT Duty Officer was notified of a marine casualty on the Mississippi River. At approximately 0000 CST the T/V Hyde Park, enroute to Dow Chemical in Baton Rouge, lost power at mile marker 92 approximately 5 miles south of New Orleans. The vessel careened down river colliding with numerous vessels and river structures, sinking a crew boat and a barge containing caustic soda. Product onboard the T/V Hyde Park is 25000 metric tons of pyrolysis gasoline and an undetermined amount of its own Bunker C fuel oil. The vessel is known to have leaked Bunker C fuel oil and it is believed that at least 8 metric tons have been released into the Mississippi River. The source of that leak has been secured. No pyrolysis gasoline is believed to be leaking at this time. The Mississippi River is closed from mile marker 79 to 92. Assistant SSC Steve Thumm is at the MSO New Orleans Crisis Action Center and HAZMAT is providing trajectory information, weather forecasts, and resources at risk. USCG district 8.