WWL NOLA reporting up to 5 barges now loose on MS river

[magellan]

Coming up from St Charles Parish. Stuck at the bend at St Rhodes? Sorry, I don't know the spelling. They're empty but loose.

[ensho]

1. seamen know how to tie down ships for a hurricane

5 loose ships is 5 too many

any tanker, barge workers on DU to chime in?

[cobalt1999]

6. One factor is that empty barges have a large exposed surface area.

An empty barge is like trying to tie down a 20 foot wall. They could have pumped water into them, but they were probably only secured with a 3-4 lines.

[tannybogus]

2. How stupid are they?

I know everything can't be done, but this sounds like somebody effed up bigtime.

I might be wrong, but I don't remember that happening during Katrina.

They are determined to end hope in the Lower 9th.

[ensho]

7. supposedly a barge got loose during Katrina and punched hole in

levee

[tannybogus]

8. That's just as bad in a way.

They knew what a loose one could do.

Thanks for the info.

[Breeze54]

3. Coast Guard trying to secure a barge and two small vessels in the Industrial Canal

Coast Guard trying to secure a barge and two vessels in the Industrial Canal

http://www.nola.com/hurricane/index.ssf/2008/09/hold_please.html

The Coast Guard confirmed Monday at 9:45 a.m. that crews are working to secure a barge and two
small vessels that are loose in the Industrial Canal, according to New Orleans' Office of
Emergency Preparedness.

One of the vessels was bumping into barriers that protect the Sewerage & Water Board discharge
system on the west side of the canal, though officials said that system is "very strong."
That ship and the barge are from Southern Scrap, a shipbreaking operation, said Bonura.

As of now, the vessels are not causing serious damage to levees or other infrastructure,
officials said.

But Mayor Ray Nagin said around 10:15 a.m. that "one of the vessels is moving around pretty
good and banging up against the canal."

He said crews were at the shipping channel trying to rope in the vessels before they could
damage the levees.

Asked if he know how or why the vessels had been docked near the Industrial Canal in advance
of a powerful hurricane, Nagin said he didn't know.

"They were not supposed to be there," he said.

Southern Scrap is near the turning basin, which is located where the Industrial Canal meets
the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, he said.

The ship and barge were being torn apart by the company and have been in the canal for probably
a couple months, Bonura said.

They appear to have broken free from their moorings. Last week, ship traffic through the
canal was halted while the canal was "dewatered" and maintenance was performed, he said.

The Coast Guard is trying to get out to secure the ship and barge, Bonura said.

One of the vessels is a decommissioned Navy ship, officials said.

[tannybogus]

5. "They weren't supposed to be there."

Those people should be tied up outside. They KNOW a huge hurricane is coming.

However, they don't have anybody checking the canals and levees to make sure what can be done is done

or if there are any problems? :spank:

[Fumesucker]

4. I've seen guys squashed flat by barges in reasonably calm weather..

This is an exceedingly dangerous operation under these conditions.

[fla nocount]

9. Cut loose by disappointed, disgruntled BlackWater merc.s, MIHOP. n/t