An early morning accident between an oil tanker and a barge on Wednesday has closed a nearly 50 mile stretch of the Mississippi River just south of the Port of New Orleans. According to port spokesman, Chirs Bonura, the closure is likely to continue for several days while teams are rushed in to clean up the heavy tar that is drifting south. As a result of the closure, no ships are able to get in or out of the port, which will probably lose nearly $100,000 a day. Not only are cargo ships affected, but the 2,050 passenger cruise ship Carnival Fantasy may not be able to reach its destination on Saturday.
Other ports are affected by the Port of New Orleans closure. The St. Bernard Port, Harbor and Terminal District has also been shut by the spill. This port receives roughly 260 calls a year from ships carrying cargo such as iron ore, plywood, steel, fertilizer, sand, and metals. The spill has also affected ships trying to reach the Port of South Louisiana from the south, as well as those traveling from the port to the mouth of the river. Ships carrying bulk cargo, such as ore, steel, grain, petroleum, and petrochemicals call on the Port of South Louisiana nearly 4,000 times a year.
While we are already aware of what damage oil spills can do to the environment, and most are likely to know the story of the Exxon Valdez, oil spills like this one that closed down the busiest river in the nation affect more than simply trees and animals. Although this spill will likely be cleaned up in several days, with the economic downturn we are going through, not to mention the price of fuel, can we really take this sort of thing for granted? And exposure to the toxins in the spill can cause irreparable harm to those who come in contact with them.
If you have been affected by an environmental disaster like this, please contact an attorney who has experience in toxic tort claims to see if you can seek compensation.
