MV Bright Field was a bulk cargo ship that collided with the Riverwalk Marketplace shopping complex in New Orleans, Louisiana, on the afternoon of Saturday, December 14, 1996, after losing engine power. The vessel was fully loaded with grain at the time of the incident. The United States Coast Guard investigated the incident and published its findings on December 8, 1997, citing the cause of the engine failure as a poorly-maintained oil filter.[1] A secondary but contributory cause was determined to be a main-engine automation system that produced warnings and alarms that were not consistently relayed to the ship's Master. The National Transportation Safety Board published its final report on January 13, 1998, which concurred with the Coast Guard's determinations and appear to charge the ship's operating company with the responsibility for the casualty.[2]
The incident resulted in no deaths, but 66 people were injured. Physical damage to the Bright Field was calculated at $1,857,952. Damage to the Riverwalk, including the pier, condominium properties, shops and hotel, totaled an estimated $15 million.
The spot where the Bright Field ran into the Riverwalk is marked on site with a plaque.
The Bright Field was repaired immediately following the incident, and in 2000 was reportedly seen again in the New Orleans harbor bearing the name Bright Star.[3] In 2007, the vessel was renamed Bright City, operating under the Liberian flag, and carried a Chinese crew.[4]
As of May 2010, it's been renamed Yong Xu Hai, under the Chinese flag.[5]
Maritime Records show the ship has been decommissioned and scrapped. [6]
References
- ^ "Investigation into the circumstances surrounding the loss of propulsion on the bulk carrier Bright Field and allision with the Riverwalk Shopping Complex on December 14, 1996 in New Orleans, Louisiana, with multiple injuries and no loss of life" (PDF). United States Coast Guard. 1997-12-08. Retrieved 2007-03-31.
- ^ "National Transportation Safety Board Marine Accident Report - Allision of the Liberian Freighter Bright Field With the Poydras Street Wharf, Riverwalk Marketplace, and New Orleans Hilton Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana, December 14, 1996" (PDF). National Transportation Safety Board. 1998-01-13. Retrieved 2007-03-31.
- ^ "Bright Field / Riverwalk New Orleans Accident Site". Archived from the original on 2007-03-26. Retrieved 2007-03-31.
- ^ "COSCO H.K. Shipping Co., Ltd. Vessel Information Details". Archived from the original on May 2, 2006. Retrieved 2007-04-02.
- ^ "YOUNYSUN SHIPPING GROUP Vessel Information Details". Retrieved 2015-12-06.
- ^ "Yong Xu Hai".
External links
- "Bright Field (322059)". Port State Information Exchange. United States Coast Guard.
- Compilation of photos, video, and maps of Bright Field collision with the Riverwalk Marketplace
- MV Bright Field Engine Shutdown Explanation of the engine shutdown based on USCG report
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