On July 10, after a five-day effort, crews were finally able to pull a 47-foot-long tugboat out of the Mississippi River, according to the Times-Picayune. Since the tugboat’s accident and subsequent sinking, that stretch of the Mississippi had been closed, either partially or entirely.

“Closing down the river was a big deal,” said Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Brandon Sullivan.

Due to the on-and-off river closures, some ships had to anchor and wait for a chance for passage, while others had to be rerouted altogether.

“Any delay is a loss, but it certainly could have been worse,” said Gary Lagrange, president of the Port of New Orleans.

Much of the delay in retrieving the tug can be attributed to the challenges workers faced in dealing with the high water levels and powerful current of the Mississippi.

“You can’t see your hand in front of your face,” said Travis Lemm, a diver with Blackwater Diving based in Morgan City, Louisiana. “The current is ungodly. The pressure on you, it pulls you so hard, and you have to tie your hose off. You can’t really see what you’re doing, so you have to feel your way around.”

After the tug sank, two people were rescued from the water. The cause of the accident was still unknown at the time of this report.

As horrible as this ship sinking case was, at least, authorities were able to resolve it without fatalities. Still, if this sinking came as a result of the tugboat being in unseaworthy condition or some other similar kind of negligence, then those responsible should be held accountable for any delays, damage or maritime injuries they caused.

With a long line of successful verdicts and settlements under their belts, the Jones Act attorneys at Latti & Anderson, LLP have what it takes to get you the justice and compensation you deserve if you or a loved one were the victim of maritime accident. For more information or to discuss your case, contact us today at (800) 392-6072 for a free consultation.

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Latti & Anderson’s Little Extra: In 2008, the International Salvage Union members’ incomes from shipwreck removal was $286 million.