COAST GUARD RESPONDS TO MULTI-SHIP COLLISION ON MISSISSIPPI RIVER

APRIL 7, 2015

NEW ORLEANS, MISSISSIPPI

The Coast Guard responded to an collision on the lower Mississippi River near Convent, Louisiana, Monday.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received report at approximately 4:00 p.m., the motor vessel Privocean, a 751 foot bulk carrier, broke free from its mooring and drifted down river and collided with the 98 foot towing vessel Texas which was moored at the time. The crew of the Texas taken to hospital for medical evaluation but no injuries were reported at this time.

The Privocean continued to drift down river and also collided with the motor vessel Bravo, an 816 foot tank ship, which was off loading crude oil at the time of the incident. The Bravo was able to complete emergency shutdown procedures before breaking free of her moorings and connection points, causing an oil spill.

The Privocean was able to get underway and anchor at mile marker 162. The Bravo is half a mile down the river from its original position and is anchored with a two tug escort. All vessels are being actively being monitored by the U.S. Coast Guard response teams.

The Mississippi River is closed from mile marker 163 to mile marker 154.

The Texas is currently stable and not taking on water or discharging any oil.

The Bravo currently has a three tug escort, the vessel is stable but taking on water in the ballast tanks. The Bravo’s propeller is currently fouled with a mooring line, but remains stable at anchor with tug escorts.

The facility arms, the source of the discharge, were secured and containment boom was deployed by an Oil Spill Response Organization. Coast Guard response teams along with OMI Environmental Services are currently responding to the spill.

Approximately 126 gallons of oil were spilled on deck of the Bravo, but was contained and is currently being cleaned.

Initial assessments show approximately 420 gallons of oil discharged into the river. The Coast Guard informed the down-river Parish Officials to protect municipal water supplies.

U.S. Coast Guard is actively monitoring the situation of all three vessel and affected areas down river. U.S. Coast Guard will continue to evaluate any potential impacts to the environment.

The cause of the incident is currently under investigation.

COAST GUARD CONDUCTS SHORELINE ASSESSMENT AFTER MULTI-VESSEL COLLISION ON MISSISSIPPI RIVER

APRIL 7, 2015

NEW ORLEANS, MISSISSIPPI

The Lower Mississippi River was opened for restricted traffic between mile marker 160 and 163, as of 10 p.m., Monday.

Coast Guard Sector New Orleans launched two shoreline assessment teams, Tuesday morning, to identify potential shoreline impacts on the Mississippi River and any recoverable oil product from the discharge, which took place yesterday.

A Coast Guard overflight took place from mile marker 165 to 80 to assess any sheen or oil products at 10:15 a.m. Other than a small amount of sheen near the incident location, no sheen or recoverable oil was observed during the overflight.

A Coast Guard Station New Orleans 45-foot response boat crew was deployed to conduct a shoreline assessment starting at mile marker 96 and moving upriver. 

No reports of recoverable product have been received by the shoreline assessment teams, nor have any facilities on the Lower Mississippi River reported pollution.

The Coast Guard is actively monitoring the situation of all three vessels and affected areas down river. The Coast Guard will continue to evaluate any potential impacts to the environment.

Diving operations to complete an on-scene damage assessment are pending due to poor visibility.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report, Monday evening, that the motor vessel Privocean, a 751-foot bulk carrier, broke free from its moorings at Ergon St. James Facility and drifted down river and allided with the 98-foot towing vessel Texas which was moored at the time.

The Privocean continued to drift down river and also collided with the 816-foot tank ship Bravo at approximately 4 p.m., Monday.

The cause of the incident is currently under investigation.

TENANT SUES CONDO COMPLEX OWNERS, HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION FOR SLIP ON ICE IN PARKING LOT

A Glenview woman is suing her landlords and homeowners association over claims she suffered injuries in a fall on accumulated ice in the parking lot.

Maria Valle filed the lawsuit March 9 in Cook County Circuit Court against Naum Shekhtman, Yelena Kabakova and the Michael Todd Homeowners Association citing negligence.

According to the lawsuit, Valle was injured when she fell on ice outside her condominium complex, Michael Todd Terrace, in Glenview on Jan. 26, 2015. The ice was allowed to accumulate as a result of a pipe regularly flushing water into the parking lot, the lawsuit states.

Valle is seeking damages in excess of $100,000, plus costs.

The plaintiff is represented by David A. Bogaerts of the Law Offices of Richard L. Pullano of Chicago.

Cook County Circuit Court case number 15-L-02392.

INSURANCE FIRM, HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION SUES CONTRACTOR, ARCHITECT OVER WATER DAMAGE

APRIL 6, 2015

American Family Insurance Co. and the Residences of Sherman Plaza Condominium Association are suing Focus Development Inc. and OKW Architects Inc. over renovation work that allegedly led to water damage at 807 Davis St. in Evanston.

After renovations were complete, on Jan. 29, 2014, fire suppression pipes near the lobby elevator on the 23rd allegedly floor froze and broke.

According to the lawsuit filed Feb. 19 in Cook County Circuit Court, renovation work done caused “untreated air to penetrate the building and caused water to freeze within the fire suppression system pipes. When those pipes broke, the lawsuit states, “significant water damage was done to the common areas, the elevators and two condominium units.”

American Family Insurance paid for the repairs, which cost $278,217.25, in addition to the insurance premium of $10,000 paid by Sherman Plaza.

That is the amount sought by the plaintiffs.

SECOND FATALITY IN 6 DAYS REPORTED AT ARGYLE CONSTRUCTION SITE IN TEXAS WHEN A MAN WAS CRUSHED TO DEATH BY A TRACTOR TRAILER

APRIL 7, 2015

ARGYLE, TEXAS

A second fatal accident in less than a week has taken place at a construction site near Argyle High School.

The victim was identified as 22-year-old Daniel Moran, of Haslet.

According to Troy Taylor, a Denton County medical examiner, Moran was guiding his father, who was behind the wheel of a semi truck hauling two trailers. He died instantly when he somehow got caught by the back right tires of the last trailer.

Crews are working a fatality accident involving an 18-wheeler at the same location as the structural collapse last week. #dfw

— Argyle Fire District (@ArgyleFD) April 7, 2015

No students or staff from the school were involved. The Argyle School District says it happened near the tennis courts. An indoor practice facility for the high school is being built in that location.

Last Thursday, 36-year-old Julio Ledesma, a single father of three girls, was killed and three others were injured when the metal frame of an under construction indoor practice facility collapsed.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is investigating.