Coast Guard: Dutch-Flagged Tanker Spills HFO in Lower Mississippi River

The U.S. Coast Guard is responding to a heavy fuel oil discharge from a Dutch-flagged tanker near Norco, Louisiana.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report at approximately 1 a.m. Monday of a HFO discharge from the foreign flagged vessel Iver Exporter near mile marker 126 on the Lower Mississippi River.

The source of the discharge is reported to be secured.

An updated estimate of 1,400 gallons of fuel oil was discharged into the river; less than the previously reported 2,600 gallons, the Coast Guard said.

There are no waterway closures or restrictions due to the incident.

The Iver Exporter is currently moored at the Shell Norco Manufacturing Complex, upriver from New Orleans.

OMI Environmental Solutions, an oil spill response organization, is on scene and responding to the spill. At this time, there are no reports of wildlife impacts. The Coast Guard is conducting an overflight to assess impacted areas.

There are no reports of injuries due to the incident.

“We are working with our federal, state and local partners and the responsible party to oversee the clean up of the discharged fuel to reduce the impacts on the environment,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Jim Langford, the federal on scene coordinator representative at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans.

The cause of the incident is under investigation.

On April 12, an estimated 4,200 gallons of fuel oil was spilled from a cargo ship after it struck a pier near mile marker 100 on the lower Mississippi River near New Orleans