- Six Barges Break Free, One Barge Sinks After Incident.
- Temporary Closure Ordered from Mile Marker 108 to 111.
- Sunken Barge Located 75 Feet Below Surface.
A collision on April 27 along the Lower Mississippi River resulted in several barges breaking loose, with one sinking and leading to a temporary shutdown of the waterway, reports Safety4Sea.
Multiple Barges Break Free
The accident caused six barges to break free. Four were successfully recovered by assist tugs, while one barge laden with urea sank. Two other barges got snagged in the anchor lines of moored ships in the vicinity.
Temporary River Closure Enforced
As a result of the accident, the Port Captain ordered a temporary closure of the river from mile markers 108 to 111 because of navigation hazards. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers subsequently confirmed that the sunken barge is lying about 75 feet below the water level.
River Reopened with Restrictions
By 3:00 Monday afternoon, following the removal of the remaining breakaway barges, the damaged portion of the river was reopened under navigation restrictions to facilitate safety.
Difficult Recovery Caused by High Water Levels
Officials added that high river levels are complicating recovery operations. Recovery work continues in collaboration with the parties responsible to devise an overall salvage plan.
No injuries have been reported, and there are no known effects to wildlife or the beach at this time. The reason for the collision is still under investigation.
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Source: Safety4Sea
