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ERIE, Pa., Dec. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Three tugboats powered by General Electric diesel engines are being used to support the freighter that crashed into a New Orleans pier near the city's French Quarter last week. The diesel engines -- the same ones that are used to power locomotives -- are manufactured by GE Transportation Systems of Erie, PA, at its diesel engine plant in Grove City. While primarily used for the locomotive market, the powerful engines can also be found in oil well rigs and other marine applications.
The tugboats, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, were called into help the situation by stabilizing the vessel to help rescue efforts and avoid further collapse of the shopping area.
The 735-foot Liberian-registered freighter lost power and also steering capabilities as it collided into the New Orleans wharf damaging the riverwalk containing a dockside shopping center, a wing of the New Orleans Hilton Hotel and a parking garage. There were no fatalities confirmed, but at least 116 people were injured.
City officials reported later that the barge, now known as the Bright Field, owned by the Cosco Co. of Hong Kong, could be removed from the area "soon," and that the tugboats were playing a major role in stabilizing the freighter and preventing additional damage. SOURCE GE Transportation Systems
/CONTACT: Eric Roman of GE Transportion Systems, 814-875-2044, or home, 814-838-0553/ CO: GE Transporation Systems ST: Pennsylvania IN: TRN SU: MZ-DP -- PHF050 -- 7595 12/20/96 18:11 EST http://www.prnewswire.com
[12-21-96 at 12:00 EST, PR Newswire]
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