Office of External Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

Date: May 31, 2007

Contact:  LTJG Christian Barger
(314) 269-2573

 SECTION OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER CLOSED TO ALL VESSEL TRAFFIC FOLLOWING TOWBOAT INCIDENT 

ST. LOUIS - The Coast Guard has closed a portion of the Upper Mississippi River today  to all vessel traffic due to a towboat accident which resulted in one sunken barge.

The Upper Mississippi is closed from mile marker 180, near the Eads Bridge, to 184, the southern end of the Chain of Rocks Canal after 15 barges broke away from the towboat John M. Rivers, while it was just north of mile marker 182 working on preparing the barges to be towed at approximately 5 a.m. today.

As a result of the barges floating free, one barge struck the McKinley Bridge causing the barge to sink in the middle of the navigation channel. The McKinley Bridge sustained no standing damage from the incident. Assist vessels in the area were able to collect the other 14 barges.

A small boat and an investigating team from Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi are on scene to assist.  Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River is working with the vessel owner, Ingram Barge Company to recover the barge.

The Coast Guard will re-open the river to vessel traffic in the affected area once it is determined safe for vessel traffic to transit.  

Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River is investigating the cause of the accident.

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