UNCLE ROBERT

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Tug on fire on Mississippi

The engine of the "Uncle Robert", pushing six barges in the Mississippi River, caught fire near the Poland Avenue Wharf in the afternoon of May 7, 2018. When the crew of the "Uncle Robert" realized the ship was on fire, they attempted to dock the boat, but struck another vessel in the process. Three deck hands on the second boat were injured in the crash and were brought to the hospital by EMS. The fire was reported just after 12:30 p.m. When firefighters arrived about 10 minutes later, there was heavy smoke billowing from the tug. The Port of New Orleans came to assist with their fireboat. One of the barges the tug was pushing became loose and struck the Poland Avenue Wharf, leaving visible damage. Another loose barge collided with a barge that was tied to a nearby vessel. The full extent of the damage to the wharf was still being assessed, but said the crash left a few pilings cracked. All six barges were carrying scrap metal. Report with photos: http://www.nola.com/traffic/index.ssf/2018/05/tugboat_fire_barge_crash_polan.html