Gustav Incidents

Incidents or Situations related to Hurricane Gustav grouped by region.

Hispaniola
Jamaica
Cayman Islands
Cuba
Flooding
Oil Platforms
Louisiana
Industrial Canal
Vessels in the Industrial Canal
See Also: Gustav Incidents and Hurricane Gustav and Industrial Canal

Much concern was given to upwards of 60 scrap vessels or objects released into the Industrial Canal especially the barges and vessels from Southern Scrap Recycling and Southern Recycling.

The Tanker American Explorer delivered from MARAD Ghost Fleet less than a month prior to the hurricane and was released from Southern Scrap along with another vessel teathered to it loose in the canal. impacted the Florida Ave bridge causing significant damage to the CSX Rigolets Pass Bridge already under water, and then slammed into the Federal Flood Control structures next to the bridge, continuing on to lodge in the Emergency Pump Station where it was then rammed by USCG and tugs to hold it to the wharf there until it could be tied down.

The Bulk Freight naval vessel labeled "Courier" was also delivered by MARAD Reserve Fleet less than a month prior the hurricane to Southern Scrap and was impacted by a Southern Scrap ocean going barge which set it loose in the Industrial Canal. The Export Courier was later a major news topic as it was grounded above the Natural Gas Pipeline directly below the I-10 bridge in New Orleans at the Industrial Canal.

Adding to the confusion, MARAD authorities had touted the sale of the American Explorer and Export Courier to Southern Scrap as proof of the economic viability of ship recycling. MARAD identified the Export Courier as the which was the flagship broadcasting vessel of the propaganda agency United States Information Agency during the cold war.

Less than a week prior the incident, Southern Scrap was subject of a Federal Court finding that US Army Corps of Engineers could sue them for the case model incident of the drydock which had sunk during Katrina. Though that vessel wasn't worth its weight in scrap, Army and FEMA contracted a competitor for over $8 million dollars to recover it and now are able to sue for the value and damages. The investigators of these incidents are expected to use this precedent to bill Southern Scrap for all of its incidents, including the barge which went through the flood wall during Hurricane Katrina.

Two vessels are reported sunk by Dupre of Southern Scrap September 1 and are likely the American Explorer and an unidentified smaller vessel tethered to it.

Mississippi River
Mile 119
Texas
Mississippi
Alabama

Categorization
Environmental Incidents Groupings:
* Katrina Incidents Hurricane Katrina, 2005
* Gustav Incidents Hurricane Gustav, 2008
Historical Incidents
* Katrina Incidents Hurricane Katrina Incidents
* Gustav Incidents Hurricane Gustav Incidents

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