A cargo ship heading down the Mississippi River struck another vessel anchored west of New Orleans on Monday, knocking a huge gash in the anchored vessel, the Coast Guard said.
The anchored ship was listing, but the hole was above the water line, and the vessel was not believed to be taking on water, said Chief Petty Officer Veronica Bandrowsky. No injuries were reported.
The vessels were the 712-foot Greek freighter Zagora, which was heading down river at the Kenner Bend area west of New Orleans, and the 737-foot Panamania freighter Torm Anholt, which was at anchor at the time of the collision.
The Torm Anholt had a 12-foot-high, 6-foot-long gash in its right side 6 to 9 feet above the water line, the Coast Guard said. The ship listed after being struck but the tilt may have been due to a loss of ballast, the Coast Guard said.
There were no reports of damage to the Zagora.
The Coast Guard established a one-way traffic safety zone in the area, but river traffic was not halted, Bandrowsky said.
