| Marine Safety Office Chicago U.S. Coast Guard |
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| Press Release |
Date: June 21, 2005 Contact: Public Affairs |
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COAST GUARD FORMAL HEARING RECONVENED Burr Ridge, IL - At approximately 4:45 p.m. on January 19, 2005 a tank barge that was owned and operated by Egan Marine Corporation exploded and sank in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal just east of the Cicero Avenue Bridge. One crewmember died as a result of the explosion. At the direction of the Ninth District Commander, the Coast Guard convened a formal hearing to determine the cause of this casualty. During the first half of the hearing, testimony was heard from the owner of Egan Marine Corporation, crewmembers of the motor vessel Lisa E, employees of Exxon Mobil Joliet, and members of the Coast Guard search and rescue team that responded to this incident. The hearing was recessed after two weeks of testimony to give all parties in interest an opportunity to examine the tank barge after it had been salvaged. Now that all the parties in interest have had the chance to inspect the barge, the Coast Guard will reconvene the hearing. The formal hearing will reconvene at 9 a.m. on June 27, 2005 at the Holiday Inn located in Willowbrook IL. The hearing will run daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is expected to last for three weeks. Media agencies desiring to participate in coverage of the proceedings must provide a written request at least two days in advance to the Coast Guard Investigating Officer, via the Marine Safety Office Chicago Public Affairs Officer, 215 West 83 Street Suite D, Burr Ridge, IL 60527. The request must include a description of the type of coverage planned and whether pooling arrangements have been made (it is solely the media's responsibility to make arrangements for the pooling of audio, video and still photographic equipment). When a pooling arrangement has been made, designated media representatives should be listed. It should be noted that no additional lighting will be permitted and that all equipment must be in place prior to the commencement of the proceedings. ###
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