• 2167 Rayburn House Office Building
  
  
  

Purpose of the Hearing

The Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation met on September 16, 2008, to examine the circumstances surrounding the spill of 282,828 gallons of oil into the Mississippi River near New Orleans, Louisiana, that occurred on July 23, 2008, when a barge being pushed by a towing vessel crossed in front of a tanker ship and was severely damaged by the tanker. 

The Subcommittee also looked more broadly at safety in the towing industry, including the status of the Cost Guard's effort to complete a rulemaking needed to begin the process of inspecting all towing vessels, as required by the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2004.

Full Summary of Subject Matter

 Video of the Hearing