The following is text of a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard:
(NEW ORLEANS) — The Coast Guard is responding to a sunken vessel in the Intracoastal Waterway near Lafitte, La., on Thursday.
Coast Guard Sector New Orleans watch standers received a notification at 6:45 a.m. of the towing vessel Cindy R., pushing six barges, with three crewmembers aboard sinking at mile marker 8, west of the Harvey Lock on the Intracoastal Waterway.
The crewmembers boarded the towing vessel Elin Gertrude before Cindy R. sank. There were no reported injuries.
Elin Gertrude picked up Cindy R.’s tow.
Cindy R. has approximately 3,000 gallons of diesel aboard. OMI has deployed absorbent boom around Cindy R. to mitigate the spread of oil.
A crane and barge are en route to commence salvage operations.
The waterway is open to marine traffic at a slow bell.
The cause of the incident is under investigation.
