AmericasOperations

Vehicle carrier adrift in Gulf of Mexico after fire

A vehicle carrier caught fire and was adrift in the Gulf of Mexico on Monday, US Coast Guard (USCG) said.

The US-flagged Alliance St Louis, owned by Alliance Navigation and operated by Hoegh Autoliners, reportedly suffered an electrical fire in its engine room.

Members of the 20-person crew extinguished the fire but the vessel was operating on emergency back-up power, which provides only minimum crew needs. It was drifting off Louisiana.

USCG cutter Brant and Good Samaritan tug Mariya Moran were on hand to provide assistance while the 653-foot Alliance St Louis awaited the arrival of the tug Crosby Endeavor, which would take it to Port Arthur, Texas.

The vessel had been en route from Port Arthur to Jacksonville, Florida.

No injuries or pollution were reported.

Investigators with Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Morgan City (of Louisiana) were looking into the cause of the incident.

Donal Scully

With 28 years experience writing and editing for newspapers in the UK and Hong Kong, Donal is now based in California from where he covers the Americas for Splash as well as ensuring the site is loaded through the Western Hemisphere timezone.
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