Date: Aug. 10, 2008

Contact:  Joint Information Center
(504) 393-0372

UNIFIED COMMAND RELEASES VIDEO OF RAISING OF BARGE

Video is available of the raising of the last part of a damaged barge that spilled oil near downtown here July 23. 

The stern section of the barge DM 932 was hoisted from the Mississippi River, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2008. 

To view or download the video, click here .

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Photo Release

Date: Aug. 10, 2008

Contact:  Joint Information Center
(504) 393-0372

 The stern section of the fuel barge DM 932 is placed aboard a carrier barge as salvage operations of the wreck on the Mississippi River at New Orleans come to an end Sunday, Aug. 10, 2008. The bow section of the barge was removed from the river August 9. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Adam C. Baylor)

The stern section of the fuel barge DM 932 is lifted out of the Mississippi River at New Orleans as salvage operations near completion Sunday, Aug. 10, 2008. The carrier barge transporting the other half of the wreck can be seen in the background. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Adam C. Baylor)

The stern section of the wrecked fuel barge DM 932 is lifted out of the Mississippi River at New Orleans as salvage operations of the wreck site reach an endpoint Sunday, Aug. 10, 2008. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Adam C. Baylor)

The stern section of the wrecked fuel barge DM 932 is lifted out of the Mississippi River at New Orleans as salvage operations of the wreck site reach an endpoint Sunday, Aug. 10, 2008.  (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Adam C. Baylor)

A Coast Guard response boat patrols the security zone at the scene of the salvage operations of the wrecked fuel barge on the Mississippi River at New Orleans Sunday, Aug. 10, 2008. The security zone was ordered by the Captain of the Port to ensure safety of operations and to lessen further contamination of vessels that may transit the area. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Adam C. Baylor)

Date: Aug. 9, 2008

Contact:  Joint Information Center
(504) 393-0372

  The bow section of the fuel barge DM 932 is lifted out of the Mississippi River Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008, during salvage operations in New Orleans. 

In this photo illustration by the U.S. Coast Guard, oil spill cleanup progress can be seen after additional release of oil during salvage operations on the barge DM 932 on the Mississippi River at New Orleans Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008. The skimmer vessels and other work boats were pre-positioned downriver from the salvage operations to make cleanup easier after the expected oil spill.  (U.S. Coast Guard photo illustration by Petty Officer 3rd Class Adam C. Baylor)

In this photo illustration by the U.S. Coast Guard, oil spill cleanup progress can be seen after additional release of oil during salvage operations on the barge DM 932 on the Mississippi River at New Orleans Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008. The skimmer vessels and other work boats were pre-positioned downriver from the salvage operations to make cleanup easier after the expected oil spill.  (U.S. Coast Guard photo illustration by Petty Officer 3rd Class Adam C. Baylor)

  Cleanup crews work to place sorbent boom along the New Orleans waterfront Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008, after the barge DM 932's bow section was lifted from the Mississippi River.

Oil skimming vessels, directed by the Mississippi River oil spill Unified Command, work to contain and clean up an oil discharge that occurred during the raising of the bow section of the barge DM 932 under the Crescent City Connection Bridge, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008. The skimming vessels, and other work boats, were pre-positioned along the New Orleans waterfront so cleanup workers could respond to the anticipated release of oil during salvage operations.

(U.S. Coast Guard photo Petty Officer 3rd Class Stephen Lehmann)

Date: August 9, 2008

Contact:  Joint Information Center
(504) 393-0372

  COAST GUARD RELEASES VIDEO OF RAISING OF DAMAGED BARGE

NEW ORLEANS - Coast Guard video is available of the raising of part of a damaged barge that spilled oil near downtown here July 23. 

The bow section of the barge DM 932 was hoisted from the Mississippi River Saturday. Salvors continued to prepare the stern section of the barge for removal from the river.

To view or download the video, click here.

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Date: Aug. 7, 2008

Contact:  Joint Information Center
(504) 393-0372

CREWS CONTINUE TO CLEAN MISSISSIPPI RIVER

NEW ORLEANS – Oil cleanup along the Mississippi River here progressed Wednesday as shoreline cleanup and assessment teams (SCAT) completed their initial surveys.

The SCATs examined every mile of river from the scene of the incident to Head of Passes, once by boat and then by land at every accessible point. Their observations helped determine what techniques and equipment will be used at oiled sites.  

Four SCATs are in the field Thursday, where they are evaluating cleanup crews’ progress.

Those cleanup crews removed about 4,900 cubic yards of oily debris by Thursday and continue to comb the river’s banks. The debris includes dead branches, thin willow roots known as shaggy beard, trash and other removable material. All debris is taken to a local landfill.

As cleanup operations continue, workers will gradually shift from their initial response phase to a managed recovery phase. The managed recovery will involve final cleanup activities, fewer workers and less equipment, as well as the final disposal of waste. Federal and state officials will continue to oversee the recovery to ensure all threats to the environment are minimized.

Editor’s note: The volume of recovered oil and water mixture from the river and shoreline areas will be available at a later date. Please note the amount of mixture reported will be the volume after separating the oil from the water. The Unified Command expects lower volume estimates than previously reported, but those estimates will represent a higher concentration of oil in the mixture.

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Crews completed removing oil and water from the DM 932 barge (center) Aug. 6, 2008. A cargo surveyor estimated more than 165,000 gallons of oil and water mix has been pumped and transferred to a holding barge (lower right). (U.S. Coast Guard photo/ Petty Officer 3rd Class Tom Atkeson)

An oil cleanup crew continues to remove oil from a section of shoreline along the Mississippi River near Jesuit Bend, La., Aug. 6, 2008. The crew is part of ongoing efforts to clean areas impacted by oil released from the DM 923 barge, which is being salvaged at the Crescent City Connection Bridge in New Orleans. (U.S. Coast Guard photo / Petty Officer 3rd Class Tom Atkeson)

Click the above image to obtain a high-resolution version.

Date: August 6, 2008

Contact:  Joint Information Center
(504) 393-0372

WORKERS COMPLETE PUMPING OIL FROM BARGE

NEW ORLEANS - Salvage crews completed pumping oil Wednesday from the DM 932 barge in the Mississippi River here.

A cargo surveyor has estimated that more than 165,000 gallons of an oil and water mixture were removed from the barge tanks. The barge carrying the mixture will be taken to the American Commercial Lines facility in Harahan, La., where the surveyor will certify the volume of oil for a more accurate amount of pumped product.

Salvage operations of the DM 932 began a new phase as workers prepare to cut the wreckage into manageable pieces. Once cutting operations are complete, salvors can prepare additional gear for lifting the sections from the water.

It is likely that more oil, which could not be removed by pumping, remains in the barge and may leak during salvage operations.  Assets on scene, including boom and skimmer vessels, are pre-positioned for any potential leaks from the barge and can respond rapidly to contain and remove the oil from the river.

Additionally, the safety zone in the area affected by the oil spill was modified Tuesday, reducing its scope to extend from mile marker 97 to 20, above Head of Passes, encompassing the entire width of the river. All vessels transiting within the safety zone are directed to move at their slowest safe speed to reduce wake near workers conducting oil spill cleanup. All shallow draft vessels are to stay 500 feet from oil spill containment booms.

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Click the above image to obtain a high-resolution version.

Date: Aug. 5, 2008

Contact:  Joint Information Center
(504) 393-0372

MISSISSIPPI RIVER OIL SPILL RESPONSE UPDATE

NEW ORLEANS  - The salvage of the DM 932 barge that spilled oil into the Mississippi River continues Wednesday as crews pump the remaining oil from its tanks.

More than 109,000 gallons of an oil and water mixture have been pumped from the barge. When pumping is complete, the next steps will be to cut the wreckage into manageable sections and lift the pieces out of the water.

Cleanup of the river has progressed to the point that shoreline cleanup and assessment teams can focus their efforts on remaining impacted areas closer to the incident site.  Crews working downriver have been relocated to areas upriver in order to better supplement work that is in progress.

Due to successful mitigation efforts, waterway management personnel are reassessing the current vessel-safety restrictions on the Mississippi River. As areas of the river are determined to be less contaminated, the current safety zone will be modified.  Mariners are encouraged to maintain the slowest safe speed to minimize wake.

Sixteen birds, six reptiles and six mammals have been captured for cleaning. Three birds, one turtle and one alligator were cleaned and released back into the wild.  

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Date: July 31, 2008, 10:00 a.m

Contact:  Joint Information Center
(504) 393-0372

  MISSISSIPPI RIVER OIL SPILL RESPONSE UPDATE 

NEW ORLEANS - Efforts to clean up and contain up to 420,000 gallons of oil spilled in the Mississippi River continue Wednesday.     

The following is the latest information:

• Vessel traffic is allowed, with restrictions, in the vicinity of Algiers Point from mile marker 93 to 95 while responders continue work to contain the secondary discharge from the barge that occurred Wednesday.
• Water intakes downriver of the Crescent City Connection have been re-opened.
• The Unified Command is prepositioning a High Volume Open Sea Skimmer (HOSS), a Clean Gulf and Associates vessel, near the barge 932 Thursday morning as a stand-by response asset during barge lifting operations.
• More than 115,000 gallons of an oil/water mix has been recovered to date.
   
• More than 2,000 responders are currently deployed throughout the region affected by the spill.
• Field responders are using three tugs, 159 work boats, four barges, 20 skimmers and 13 vacuum trucks on scene to clean up the spill.
• Approximately 155,000 feet of containment boom and sorbent boom is deployed.
• A plan to salvage the barge has been approved and is being implemented.
• 120 vessels have been decontaminated and released and operations are accelerating.
• The Unified Command is working diligently to ensure personal safety, to expedite pollution cleanup and to resume commercial traffic as soon as possible.
• An incident Web site has been established at www.neworleansoilspill.com
• Oiled wildlife can be reported by calling 504-393-0353.

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