Fuel oil spilled in the Lower Mississippi River

Fuel oil was spilled during a transfer from an oil tanker to a barge near Kenner on the Lower Mississippi River on Thursday.

PHOTO: The US Coast Guard New Orleans sector responded to the oil spill near Kenner, Louisiana by deploying booms around the spilled oil and implicated vessels on Friday. US Coast Guard Sector New Orleans

“Coast Guard Sector New Orleans watchstanders received notification yesterday at 6:08 p.m. that the tank vessel Hafnia Rhine discharged oil during a fueling operation with a fuel barge at Ama Anchorage, mile marker 115,” the Coast Guard Sector New Orleans reported on Friday.

It estimates that 2,100 gallons (7.93 mt) of fuel oil was spilled and contaminated around 50-60 barges in the area.

Containment and sorbent booms have been deployed around the spilled oil and affected vessels by the National Response Corporation and Environmental Safety and Health Consulting Services, which was hired to clean up the spill.

The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the spill. No wildlife has been affected.