NEW ORLEANS - At approximately 12:15 a.m, Coast Guard Marine Safety Office New Orleans was notified that the uninspected towboat Trey DeLoach, pushing three empty barges, struck the Florida Avenue bridge in New Orleans.

The Trey DeLoach was southbound in the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal, also known as the Industrial Canal, approaching the Florida Avenue bridge when the empty tank barge it was pushing, Kirby 10315, hit the approach to the bridge. The Kirby 10315 was partially blocking the westbound vehicular approach to the bridge.

The bridge remains closed to vehicular and train traffic. Bridge surveyors will be assessing the damage to the bridge today.

The Trey DeLoach is owned by Delaware Marine Operators, Inc.

The tank barge Kirby 10351 is owned by Kirby Inland Marine Inc.

There were no injuries or pollution reported.

Drug and alcohol testing, as per standard procedure, has been ordered for the crew of the Trey DeLoach.

Coast Guard Marine Safety Office New Orleans is investigating the cause of the accident.

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