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<td nowrap=“true” align=“left” style=“width: 60%;]<span style=“font-family: Times New Roman;” size=“7” color=”#6666ff]Press Release</span></td>
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<font size=“3” face="Times New Roman]Date: Aug. 2, 2008
Contact: Eighth District External Affairs
(504) 671-2020</font>
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<p align="center]<strong><font size="4]<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;]COAST GUARD RELEASES PRELIMINARY FINDINGS IN OIL SPILL INVESTIGATION </span></font></strong>
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<font size="3" face="Times New Roman]<strong>NEW ORLEANS</strong> – The Coast Guard has released preliminary findings from the independent formal investigation into the collision that occurred on the Mississippi River near downtown, Wednesday, July 23, 2008 between the vessels Tintomara and [Mel Oliver](http://gcaptain.com/maritime/forum/comments.php?DiscussionID=456" name="Mel Oliver Accident), as well as recordings from the Vessel Traffic Service.</font>
<font size="3" face="Times New Roman]The independent investigation by the U.S. Coast Guard was initiated by Rear Adm. Joel R. Whitehead, commander of the Eighth Coast Guard District headquartered here. </font>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;" size="3]Initial findings of fact are as follows:</span>
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[li]<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;" size="3]There were no mechanical or electrical issues with the Tintomara.</span>
[/li] [li]<span style=“font-family: Times New Roman;” size="3]There were no crew competency issues with the Tintomara.</span>
[/li] [li]<span style=“font-family: Times New Roman;” size="3]There were no competency issues with the pilot aboard the Tintomara.</span>
[/li] [li]<span style=“font-family: Times New Roman;” size="3]The Tintomara did call out via radio to the Mel Oliver prior to the collision. </span>
[/li] [li]<span style=“font-family: Times New Roman;” size="3]The captain of the Mel Oliver was not aboard the vessel at the time of the collision. </span>
[/li] [li]<span style=“font-family: Times New Roman;” size="3]Mel Oliver had an assigned crew of a Captain, Steersman apprentice, and two deck hands.</span>
[/li] [li]<font size=“3” face="Times New Roman]The steersman apprentice was operating the Mel Oliver at the time of the collision. He was licensed but his license did not authorize him to operate the vessel without the captain’s presence in the wheelhouse. </font>
[/li] [li]<span style=“font-family: Times New Roman;” size="3]The Mel Oliver did not return the radio call outs from the Tintomara prior to the collision.</span>
[/li] [li]<span style=“font-family: Times New Roman;” size="3]Vessel traffic service did call out to the Mel Oliver prior to the collision.</span>
[/li] [li]<span style=“font-family: Times New Roman;” size="3]The Mel Oliver did not answer the vessel traffic service prior to the collision. </span>
[/li] [li]<span style=“font-family: Times New Roman;” size="3]The Mel Oliver was moving the barge DM 932.</span>
[/li] [li]<span style=“font-family: Times New Roman;” size="3]As the Mel Oliver was pushing against the bow of barge DM 392, the Tintomara made contact with the port side of barge DM 392.</span>
[/li] [li]<span style=“font-family: Times New Roman;” size="3]Drug and alcohol testing was done on the bridge and watch crew of the Tintomara and the Mel Oliver. </span>
[/li] [li]<font size=“3” face="Times New Roman]An independent survey relating to the mechanical and electrical system was conducted on the Mel Oliver and it has been moved to dry dock to be inspected, reports on the survey and the inspection are pending. </font>
[/li] [li]<span style=“font-family: Times New Roman;” size="3]The formal hearing has been scheduled for Aug. 12, 2008.</span>
[/li] [li]<font size=“3” face="Times New Roman]The pilot of the Tintomara, the Tintomara, the steersman of the Mel Oliver, the Captain of the Mel Oliver, DRD towing, American Commercial Lines, and the Mel Oliver have been named as parties of interest, official letters were sent out Aug. 1, 2008.</font>
[/li] </ol>
<span style=“font-family: Times New Roman;” size="3]The released video from the VTS includes the radio communications between the parties. </span>
<font size=“3” face="Times New Roman]<strong>***MEDIA NOTE: Some language in the video may not be appropriate for all viewers. Please allow time for the download to complete</strong>.***
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;" size="3]The video can be found at: </span>
[<span style="font-family: times new roman,times;" size="3]http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/<wbr></wbr>main.php?g2_itemId=340375</span>](http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=340375)
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