MORE than 100 commercial vessels await the reopening of the Mississippi river near New Orleans today as the Coast Guard and contracted crews press on with recovery and salvage operations of the sunken Lee III.
The vessel capsized early on 21 February after colliding with a container ship.
The recovery effort is being hampered by 4-5kt river currents, high winds, rain and fog.
The Army Corps of Engineers and the State of Louisiana have been asked to reduce the river current via the Old River Control Structure and divert water into the Atchafalaya Basin.
As of Tuesday night, 51 vessels ?primarily bulk and container ships ?were waiting to transit northbound and 52 were waiting to transit southbound through the pass. Cruise ship Carnival Conquest has used Gulfport, Mississippi as an alternative, while the Holiday shifted to Mobile, Alabama.
NCL’s Norwegian Dream was able to use a container port at the mouth of the river, France Road Terminal #5. Royal Caribbean has used Gulfport for its Mardi Gras port-of-call visit by the Enchantment of the Seas, while the Grandeur of the Seas remains trapped in New Orleans. Passengers have been given a full refund.