Office of External Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

Date: March. 26, 2008

Contact:  Petty Officer 3rd Class Tom Atkeson
(618) 225-9008

COAST GUARD INVESTIGATES GROUNDING, MULTIPLE BARGE BREAKAWAY

LAPLACE, La -The Coast Guard is responding to a grounded vessel on the Mississippi River today, that ran aground approximately 10 a.m.

Members from the Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Center in New Orleans overheard radio transmissions from the pilot aboard the bulk cargo vessel, Pacific Eagle, describing details of the grounding over marine radio.

Initial reports say that grounding resulted in 60 barges breaking away from the fleeting area and are currently being corralled by other fleet vessels.

The Coast Guard closed the river at 3:41 p.m. to allow fleet boats to maneuver barges.  There were no injuries and no pollution reported as a result of this collision.

Attempts to re-float the vessel were unsuccessful and  the vessel was directed by the Coast Guard to stop attempts until a re-float plan could be submitted.

Coast Guard investigators are on scene to assess the situation and determine the cause of the incident. 

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U.S. Coast Guard - Saving lives since 1790