Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley News

A partially sunken towboat is discharging diesel fuel near Florence, Ala.The U.S. Coast Guard said on Monday it is responding to the incident alongside partner agencies after Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley received notification at approximately 2 p.m. Sunday from RMB Marine Services reporting the towboat Michael R had partially sank in the Port of Florence, adjacent to mile marker 257 on the Tennessee River.Pollution responders from Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Nashville…

The U.S. Coast Guard responded Thursday to the aground cruise vessel American Jazz near Canton, Kentucky."American Jazz is aground near mile marker 62 on the Cumberland River outside the ship channel and is carrying 120 passengers and 54 crew members," the U.S. Coast Guard said.Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley watchstanders received a call Thursday morning from American Cruise Lines stating their vessel American Jazz ran aground. A Coast Guard Station Paducah 29-foot Special Purpose Craft-Shallow Water boat crew along with a Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Paducah marine investigator were launched to the scene."No damage, pollution, or injuries were reported. The Coast Guard is coordinating with American Cruise Lines to establish a salvage plan to dislodge the cruise vessel.

The U.S. Coast Guard said it is searching for a towboat crewman in the water in the Ohio River near Alton, Ind., Sunday.Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley received a report around 12 p.m EST that a deckhand from a towing vessel had gone overboard without a life jacket, somewhere between mile marker 675 and mile marker 700.The male deckhand is described to be in his 50s, about 280 pounds, and 5 feet 10 inches tall.The Coast Guard is coordinating the search with local agency partners, including the Meade County Fire Department and Indiana Department of Conservation.

The Coast Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers and Tennessee Valley Towing Company, the responsible party, are continuing their response to a tug and barge accident on the Ohio River in Louisville, Kentucky, Wednesday.The water at the McAlpine Dam rose approximately three feet over the course of the past 24 hours causing one additional barge to sink. Nine barges are currently lying on the dam just above the falls. Seven of the nine barges sank.The Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers, and the responsible party are working together to evaluate the ever-changing situation each day.

The Coast Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers and Tennessee Valley Towing Company, the responsible party, are continuing their response to a tug and barge accident on the Ohio River in Louisville, Kentucky, Thursday.The Coast Guard reopened the Ohio River to all vessel traffic from Twelve Mile Island to McAlpine Lock and Dam.Traffic movement is currently only permitted during daylight hours and with an assist vessel, which is available pre-stationed at McAlpine Lock and Dam.Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley received a report at approximately 8:10 p.m.…

The U.S. Coast Guard is responding to a report of a barge breakaway at the Racine Lock and Dam on the Ohio River near Huntington, W.Va., Thursday. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley received a report that UTV Austin C. Settoon, pushing three barges loaded with approximately 3,780,000 gallons of natural gas condensate, allided with the lock wall at approximately 5:30 a.m. The barges subsequently broke away. One barge is contained in the lock while the remaining two barges are pinned against gates seven and eight of the dam, with the vessel pinned against gates six and seven. The Racine Lock and Dam is closed, creating a queue of 13 upbound vessels and 11 downbound vessels.

The U.S. Coast Guard siad it is continuing its response to an allision resulting in a barge breakaway on the Mississippi River near Thebes, Ill., Wednesday. An Incident Command Post has been established at Marine Safety Unit Paducah. Lt. Cmdr. Heather Stratton is the Incident Commander. It was initially stated that the closure was from mile marker 44 to mile marker 30 on the Mississippi River. The Mississippi River is now closed to all traffic from mile marker 44 to mile marker 20, with the exception of authorized vessels involved in the incident. Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley watchstanders received a call after the tow vessel Michael G. Morris allided with the Thebes Railroad Bridge at approximately 5 a.m., Wednesday. The allision caused all 30 barges loaded with grain to breakaway.

The U.S. Coast Guard has issued a number of river closures, restrictions and advisories in response to floods in the Midwest and South. Illinois River is open to traffic. The Coast Guard recommends that mariners transit the river in daylight hours only. The Missouri River is open to vessel traffic. The Coast Guard urges mariners to monitor VHF-FM channels 16 and 22 for any changes to the river. For more details on the closures set in place by Sector Upper Mississippi River call the command center at 314-269-2610. The Paducah-Louisville railroad bridge at mile marker 94.8 on Green River requires one-hour notice for opening. The Louisville-Nashville Swing Bridge at mile marker 190.4 on Cumberland River is closed. A safety advisory is in place from mile marker 110 to mile marker 0.

The Coast Guard has issued a number of river closures, restrictions and advisories in response to floods in the midwest. To keep the public and professional mariners apprised of changes to river traffic, the 8th District will continue to issue press releases capturing all closures and restrictions throughout this period of high water and flooding. * The Coast Guard Captain of the Port has re-opened the Mississippi River surrounding the St. Louis Harbor from mile marker 179 to mile marker 185. Vessels operating in this area must be in compliance with horsepower and barge restrictions in accordance with the Western Rivers Waterways Action Plan. * Illinois River is open to traffic. The Coast Guard recommends that mariners transit the river in daylight hours only.

The United States Coast Guard has issued a number of river closures, restrictions and advisories in response to floods in the Midwest. To keep the public and professional mariners apprised of changes to river traffic, the 8th District will continue to issue press releases capturing all closures and restrictions throughout this period of high water and flooding. Upper Mississippi River closed between mile markers 184 and 179 near St. Louis, Missouri. Illinois River closed between mile markers 0 to 50 from Hardin, Illinois to Grafton, Illinois. For more details on the closures set in place by Sector Upper Mississippi River call the command center at 314-269-2610. Restrictions on Mississippi River from mile marker 110, near Chester Illinois, to mile marker 34, near Billings Landing, Missouri.

The Coast Guard has issued a number of river closures, restrictions and advisories in response to floods in the Midwest. To keep the public and professional mariners apprised of changes to river traffic, the 8th District will continue to issue press releases capturing all closures and restrictions throughout this period of high water and flooding. * Upper Mississippi River closed between mile markers 184 and 179 near St. Louis, Missouri. * Illinois River closed between mile markers 0 to 50 from Hardin, Illinois to Grafton, Illinois. Mississippi River call the command center at 314-269-2610314-269-2610 FREE FREE. * Restrictions on Mississippi River from mile marker 110, near Chester Illinois, to mile marker 34, near Billings Landing, Missouri.

The Coast Guard has issued a number of river closures and restrictions in response to floods in the Midwest. To keep the public and professional mariners apprised of changes to river traffic, the 8th District will continue to issue press releases capturing all closures and restrictions throughout this period of high water and flooding. Upper Mississippi River closed between mile markers 184 and 179 near St. Louis, Missouri. Illinois River closed between mile markers 0 to 50 from Hardin, Illinois to Grafton, Illinois. Restrictions on Mississippi River from mile marker 110, near Chester Illinois, to mile marker 34, near Billings Landing, Missouri.

On-scene assessment teams have reported the maximum estimated potential clarified slurry oil released from the tug collision is now 250,000 gallons, Thursday. The maximum potential spill has been reduced because the two remaining partitions aboard the affected barge were reportedly secured. A Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry fixed wing aircraft conducted an over flight earlier today, which revealed a five-mile discoloration beginning at the impact site. A safety zone is in place on the Mississippi River, and currently closed to all traffic except response vessels between mile markers 939-922. A queue is in place, six up bound and nine down bound. Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley watchstanders received a call about a collision between two towboats at mile marker 937 at 8:22 p.m. Wednesday.

The U.S. Coast Guard is responding to the sinking of a towing vessel on the Ohio River near Golconda, Illinois, Wednesday. Coast Guard Sector Ohio River Valley watchstanders were notified the towing vessel David Dunnigan sank while working near mile marker 897.5, at approximately 8 p.m. The David Dunnigan reportedly capsized, sank and drifted down river. The exact location of the sunken vessel is unknown at this time. Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley Captain of the Port, Capt. Richard Timme, has restricted vessel operations from mile marker 896.5 to mile marker 900 on the Ohio River as a precaution until the position of the vessel is determined. The towing vessel is reportedly carrying an estimated 3,000 gallons of fuel oil on board.

The Coast Guard is responding to a barge collision on the Ohio River near Joppa, Illinois, Wednesday. Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley watchstanders were notified a collision took place between the towing vessel Christina Belcher, pushing two crude oil barges, and a loaded sand barge in a fleeting area at mile marker 952, at around 3 a.m. There were no reported injuries. One of the oil barges, reportedly carrying an estimated 921,000 gallons of crude oil, was damaged but remains intact with no reported pollution. The sand barge was reportedly damaged and sank outside the navigable waterway. Personnel from Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Paducah, Kentucky, are on scene and will supervise response and recovery efforts. The cause of the incident is under investigation.

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) is responding to a barge collision on the Ohio River near Joppa, Illinois, Wednesday.   Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley watchstanders were notified a collision took place between the towing vessel Christina Belcher, pushing two crude oil barges, and a loaded sand barge in a fleeting area at mile marker 952, at around 3 a.m.   One of the oil barges, reportedly carrying an estimated 921,000 gallons of crude oil, was damaged but remains intact with no reported pollution. The sand barge was reportedly damaged and sank outside the navigable waterway.   No injuries were reported.   Personnel from Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Paducah, Kentucky, are on scene and will supervise response and recovery efforts.   The cause of the incident is under investigation.

The Coast Guard assisted local agencies with the response to a waterfront restaurant, Friday, March 11,that broke away from its mooring with 84 people onboard on the Ohio River. At approximately 10:15 p.m., watchstanders from Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley received a report from the Covington, Ky., Fire Department that the Jeff Ruby's Waterfront Restaurant had broken away from its mooring at mile marker 471 on the Ohio River. The barge floated approximately 85 yards downstream where it rested beneath the C.W. Bailey Bridge. The bridge was inspected by Kentucky Department of Transportation, and no damage was reported. Local towboats and firefighters from the Covington Fire Department stabilized the barge and evacuated the passengers and crewmembers from the barge.

The Coast Guard is responding to a report of an isopropyl alcohol leak from a barge in the Ohio River, Feb. 21. At about 5:30 a.m., the captain of the tug vessel Bridget Cauley notified watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley that alcohol was reportedly leaking from the top portion of a barge that the Bridget Cauley was pushing, spilling an unknown amount on to the deck of the barge, while transiting the river approximately five miles south of Cincinnati. A pollution investigation team from Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Cincinnati was dispatched to the scene. A temporary patch placed over the hole was effective in securing the leak; however, the Bridget Cauley remains under a Captain of the Port order until a final repair is made.

U.S. Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley will celebrate on August 4 the service's 217th birthday as America's oldest continuous sea-going service. Since its inception in 1790, the men and women of "America's Lifesavers," the Coast Guard, have saved more than 1 million lives. In 2006 alone, the men and women of Sector Ohio Valley assisted 560 persons and over $800m in property. Moreover, that same year the Sector conducted 331 casualty investigations, 1,395 vessel inspections, 448 facility inspections, and 122 pollution responses. The Coast Guard traces its roots in Louisville back to 1852 with the assignment of the first local Supervisory Inspector of the U.S. Steamboat Inspection Service.

Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley is scheduled to host a change-of-command ceremony on July 6, 2007 in Louisville, Kentucky. During the ceremony, Capt. Hung M. Nguyen, will relieve Capt. John R. Bingaman and will assume command of Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley. Capt. Nguyen arrives in Louisville from the Coast Guard Marine Safety Center in Washington D.C where he served as executive officer. Capt. Bingaman has been the commander of Sector Ohio Valley since its commissioning in 2005 and will depart Louisville to become the Chief of Prevention at Eleventh Coast Guard District in Alameda, Cal. Rear Adm. Joel R. Whitehead, Commander of the Eighth Coast Guard District in New Orleans is scheduled to be the presiding official for the ceremony.