Runaway Ship Collides With Two Others On Mississippi River

A 751-foot ship broke loose from its moorings Monday in Louisiana, colliding with at least two other ships as it drifted down the Mississippi River and causing a significant oil spill, the Coast Guard said. The river was closed for nine miles as cities and towns in the New Orleans area were warned to protect their water supplies. The Privocean, a Malta-flagged bulk carrier, broke loose about 4 p.m. (5 p.m. ET) near Convent, about 45 miles west of New Orleans, and soon collided with the Texas, a 98-foot towing vessel that was moored, the Coast Guard said.