The US Coast Guard has issued directive to restrict towboats from pushing barges under bridges between mile markers 363 and 438 following two recent accidents in the Low Mississippi River: a bridge allision near Natchez and a second one near Vicksburg.
Accident #1
USCG Response to barge allision near Natchez
The Coast Guard continues its response to a towboat allision with the Natchez-Vidalia Bridge on the Mississippi River resulting in a barge sinking with slurry oil on board, near Natchez, Mississippi, Thursday.
Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River watchstanders received a call at 1:02 p.m., reporting an allision involving the towing vessel Amy Francis and the Natchez-Vidalia Bridge at mile marker 363 on the Mississippi River. The Amy Francis was transporting six barges, four reportedly loaded with slurry oil and two reported to be empty at the time of the incident.
The allision caused damage to at least one barge containing slurry oil, and discharging an unknown amount into the Mississippi River. An oily sheen was reportedly observed in the vicinity of the allision. The Coast Guard is working with State and Local agencies, the barge owner to determine the amount of slurry oil that has been discharged.
The barge reportedly has a maximum potential of more than 1,000,000 gallons of slurry oil on board.
The Captain of the Port has issued a waterway restriction from mile marker 363 near Natchez, MS north to mile marker 438 near Vicksburg, MS. The restriction is for towboats pushing barges to not transit under the bridges.
The cause of incident is under investigation.
Accident #2
USCG Response to bridge allision near Vicksburg
he Coast Guard is responding to a barge allision at mile marker 435.8 on the Mississippi River near Vicksburg, Mississippi, Thursday.
The towing vessel Thomas Kay allided with the Vicksburg Railroad Bridge this afternoon. One ethanol barge has sustained damage from the Allison. The other eighteen dry cargo barges reported no damage.
The Captain of the Port has issued a waterway restriction from mile marker 363 near Natchez, MS north to mile marker 438 near Vicksburg, MS. The restriction is for towboats pushing barges to not transit under the bridges.
The Vicksburg Railroad Bridge will remain closed until a safety inspection is completed by the Vicksburg Bridge Commission and the State of Mississippi.
The cause of the incident is under investigation.
Source & Image Credit: USCG
