Office of External Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

Date: Jun. 03, 2007

Contact:  Lt.j.g. Christian Barger
(314) 269-2573

UPDATE: VESSEL TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS REDUCED ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER

ST. LOUIS - The Coast Guard reduced restrictions today on the Mississippi River from mile marker 181 to mile marker 182 to vessel traffic transit.

The only remaining restrictions include no passing and no meeting situations in the affected area, and vessels are required to transit at the slowest safe speed possible.

The river was closed Thursday after 15 barges broke thier tow from the towboat John M. Rivers resulting in one loaded corn barge striking the McKinley Bridge in St. Louis and later sinking in the channel.

The barge owner, Ingram Barge Company, began salvage operations on the sunken barge Friday morning.

Today the barge was removed from the channel.

Salvage operations are expected to continue for the next 3 days along the Illinois bank.

The Coast Guard deemed the river safe for transit.  

The exact cause of this incident is still under investigation by the Coast Guard.

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