Clara-B

Five people have been rescued from the Mississippi after the tug 'Patrick J Studdert' (MMSI: 367534690) was in collision with the 'Clara B', sailing northbound on the river ,en route from Istanbul to Baton Rouge, on Dec 31, 2024, at around 7:41 p.m. near the Hale Boggs Bridge. The tug sank in a stretch of river 90 feet deep near Luling, Louisiana. The five crew members who were rescued were sent to the hospital to be checked out. The bulk carrier anchored in pos. 29° 60' N 090° 26' W. The river was closed for approximately three hours but traffic has resumed. The Coast Guard was working with state and local authorities. After the collision, a small amount of diesel fuel leaked into the river, creating a sheen on the water. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality did flyovers to check for pollution and found the sheen but no major fuel spill.