The US Coast Guard and local agencies informed that they are continuing to monitor the situation at mile marker 390 on the lower Mississippi River near Vicksburg, Mississippi, Friday, as a vessel caught fire.
Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River watchstanders received a call last week regarding the George King, reporting an engine room fire with nine crewmembers aboard. The crewmembers abandoned the ship to the dry cargo barges it was pushing with no reported injuries. The fire has now been extinguished.
The ‘C. Michael Reeves’ pushed the George King and its barges onto the left descending bank of the Mississippi River. George King has an estimated 65,000 gallons of diesel on board.
The waterway restriction between mile marker 395 and mile marker 380 was lifted last week.
In order to avoid pollution in the area, the United States Environmental Services has set boom and absorbent pads around the George King. However, no pollution has been reported yet.