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Sector Lower Mississippi River News

05 Oct 2022

Low Water Levels Causing Barge Groundings on the Mississippi River

© walkingarizona / Adobe Stock

A number of barges have gone aground in the Lower Mississippi River due to low water levels, the U.S. Coast Guard said.There are reports of barge groundings Tuesday near Stack Island, Mississippi, with a waterway restriction from mile marker 478 to 492 and Memphis, Tennessee, with a waterway closure from mile marker 686 to 676."Due to low water levels on the Lower Mississippi River, we have seen an increase in commercial vessel groundings," said Capt. Eric Carrero, Director of Western Rivers and Waterways at Coast Guard District Eight.

07 Mar 2018

Towing Vessel Sinks in Tennessee

(Photo: USCG)

The U.S. Coast Guard is responding to a sunken towing vessel at mile marker 832 of Everett Lake near Dyersburg, Tenn. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River received a report on Tuesday that the motor vessel Ms Nancy C, owned by Choctaw Transportation Company, was in the process of building a tow at a fleeting area when it began taking on water. While attempting to dewater the vessel, the two people aboard departed to retrieve another dewatering pump. Upon their return, the stern of the vessel had sunk. Approximately 3,000 gallons of diesel is estimated to be on board.

21 Nov 2016

Mississippi River Reopened after Barge Breakaway

The Mississippi River has been reopened for restricted vessel traffic after a barge breakaway on Saturday lead the U.S. Coast Guard to close the section from mile marker 771 to mile marker 750 approximately 20 miles north of Memphis, Tenn.   The vessel Cooperative Enterprise was towing 42 barges containing corn or soybeans when they broke away Saturday. So far 38 barges have been secured, and four grounded barges are waiting to be lightered which is restricting the waterway, Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River reported.   The area is open to one-way traffic to down-bound vessels.   There have been no reported injuries, pollution or environmental impact.   The cause of the incident is under investigation.

27 Jun 2016

Red River Closed after Barge Grounding

The Red River was closed Sunday from mile marker 40 to mile marker 42, after a barge reportedly ran aground and was protruding into the channel near mile marker 41, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.   The river is closed to all vessels, and any request to transit the river prior to reopening shall be directed to Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River on VHF-FM Channel 16 for further information, the Coast Guard said.   The Red River Express is en route from Texas and is expected to be on scene late in the evening June 27, 2016 to lighter the barge so it can be safely re-floated.

12 Mar 2016

Search for 2 Missing persons on Lower Mississippi River

The Coast Guard and local rescue agencies are searching for two people in a fishing vessel near mile marker 363 on the Lower Mississippi River, in Claiborne County, Miss., Friday. Watchstanders with Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River received a report from the Claiborne County Sheriff office at 10:46 a.m., Thursday that a fishing vessel with two people aboard was overdue. Last contact with the vessel was at 12 a.m., Wednesday as they were leaving Bayou Pierre and entering the Lower Mississippi River at mile marker 395. The boat is an 18 ft. long, six to eight foot-wide, flat bottom Commercial Fisher. The hull is aluminum and is not painted. The vessel also has onboard a black, 40-horse power outboard Mercury engine.

21 Jan 2016

Barges Hit Bridge on the Mississippi

The U.S. Coast Guard is responding to a barge allision at mile marker 435.8 on the Mississippi River near Vicksburg, Miss., Wednesday.   Watchstanders with Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River received a call at 10:19 a.m., stating the towing vessel Wally Roller allided with the Vicksburg Railroad Bridge.   All six barges were reported to have broken free and have now been safely accounted for, and traffic has resumed.   The Vicksburg Railroad Bridge will remain closed until a safety inspection is completed by the Vicksburg Bridge Commission and the State of Mississippi.   The Coast Guard said it is evaluating additional navigation safety measures in order to reduce the potential for future marine accidents.   The cause of the incident is under investigation.

20 Jan 2016

Coast Guard Western Rivers High Water Closures, Restrictions

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.

10 Jan 2016

Western Rivers High Water Closures, Restrictions - Update

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.

04 Jan 2016

Coast Guard Advises Western River Closures, Restrictions

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.

03 Jan 2016

US Western Rivers Closures, Restrictions

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.

15 Dec 2015

Towing Vessels Collide on Lower Mississippi

One of two towing vessels involved in a collision on the Lower Mississippi River has sunk near Memphis, Monday afternoon. The U.S. Coast Guard and local agencies are responding   Coast Guard watchstanders received a notification of a collision between the towing vessels Margaret Ann and the William Strait at mile marker 727 on the Lower Mississippi River. The William Straight sank in 20 feet of water.   A Coast Guard 25-foot small boat crew from the Sector Lower Mississippi River along with an HC-144 Ocean Sentry fixed-wing aircraft from Aviation Training Center Mobile, Alabama and local pollution response agencies are on scene responding.   A safety zone has been established from mile markers 726 to 728.   The cause of the incident is under imvestigation.

15 Dec 2015

Coast Guard Responds to Lower Mississippi River Collision

The Coast Guard and local agencies are responding to a collision between two towing vessels on the Lower Mississippi River near Memphis, Monday afternoon. Watchstanders with Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River command center received a notification of a collision between the towing vessels Margaret Ann and the William Strait at mile marker 727 on the Lower Mississippi River. The William Straight sank in 20 feet of water. A Coast Guard 25-foot small boat crew from the Sector Lower Mississippi River along with an HC-144 Ocean Sentry fixed-wing aircraft from Aviation Training Center Mobile, Alabama and local pollution response agencies are on scene responding. A safety zone has been established from mile markers 726 to 728. The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the incident.

09 Apr 2014

USCG Searching for 2 Trapped Under Sunken Barge

The Coast Guard, along with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the Mississippi County, Ark. Sheriff's Department, are searching for two people in the water near a sunken barge in Hickman Landing Wednesday. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River received a report at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday that two people became trapped beneath a barge that flipped and sank in the Mississippi River. Sector Lower Mississippi River directed the launch of a 25-foot Response Boat — Small boatcrew to search for the two men along with joint agency boatcrews. The Mississippi River is closed from mile marker 815 to mile marker 825 to aid in the search efforts. “This reminds us of the dangers mariners face while working on the river,” said Capt.

04 Oct 2013

Fender Allision on Arkansas River

The Coast Guard is responding to a fender allision involving the 23-meter motor vessel Bill Rodgers and the Interstate 30 bridge at mile marker 118.5 on the Arkansas River, Thursday. Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River watchstanders received a report from the vessel operator at 3:20 p.m. reporting that while pushing eight empty barges, the tug Bill Rodgers allided with the north fender system. The Coast Guard immediately dispatched its marine inspection and investigation teams to the scene to assess damage and determine the cause of the incident. The I-30 bridge was shut down to traffic in order to allow the Arkansas State Police and the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management teams to conduct a damage assessment. The bridge has since been reopened.

03 Feb 2013

Mississippi River Reopens to Towboat Traffic

The Coast Guard has reopened the Mississippi River for both-way traffic following the oil spill near Vicksburg. The Captain of the Port has reduced the safety zone to one mile centered on either side of the two barges with no passing or overtaking within the zone. “The Coast Guard is no longer actively managing the flow of towboat traffic and we are minimizing the safety zone to a one-mile distance to ensure the safety of response crews still working on the MOC-12 barge,” said Capt. William Drelling, Federal On Scene Commander for the Vicksburg oil spill. The light crude oil product in the tank barges MOC-12 and MOC-15 was effectively removed to complete damage assessments and temporary repairs to prepare them for transit to a waiting marine facility.

01 Feb 2013

Coast Guard Response to Vicksburg Spill Continues

The unified command continues to respond to a crude oil spill in the lower Mississippi River near mile marker 436 in Vicksburg, Miss., Thursday. At 10:05 a.m. response crews removed fuel from the damaged barge MOC-12 after reconfiguring oil-pump equipment. Following completion of the oil removal operations the damaged barge will be inspected and prepared for transit to a maritime facility in nearby Vicksburg. The MOC-15 barge has been moved upriver from the MOC-12 oil removal operation and is waiting for transportation to a maritime facility.

29 Jan 2013

Lower Mississippi Closure Due to Oil Spill

Tugboat 'Endeavor': Photo courtesy of Nature's Way Marine

US Coast Guard's unified command is dealing with a crude oil spill from a damaged barge in Vicksburg, Miss. The barge had earlier been damaged through contact with a bridge support while in tow, and the Mississippi River remains closed to all traffic for a 16-mile distance between mile marker 425 and mile marker 441 near Vicksburg. Currently there are 21 northbound and 34 southbound vessels affected due to the river closure. A lightering and salvage plan has been approved by the unified command and multiple response crews have been dispatched to begin removing oil from the barge.

28 Jul 2010

Collision on Mississippi River, Pollution Incident

The U.S. Coast Guard is responding to a report of acrylonitrile in the Mississippi River, near mile marker 775.5, one mile north of the Hachie River inlet. At approximately 9 p.m., July 26, watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River received a report from the master of the Merrick Jones, a 128-ft towing vessel pushing 26 barges, that a collision had occurred involving the Merrick Jones and the Dixie Express, an 87-ft towing barge pushing two barges of acrylonitrile. A marine and pollution investigation team from Sector Lower Mississippi River were dispatched to assess the incident. An unknown amount of acrylonitrile was released into the water after one of the barges being pushed by the Dixie Express was damaged in the incident. The source of the spill has been secured.

28 Jan 2013

UPDATE: Coast Guard Responding Mississippi Allision / Spill

The unified command continues to respond to a crude oil spill in the lower Mississippi River near mile marker 434 in Vicksburg, Miss., Monday. Tank soundings indicated that the barge is still leaking product into the waterway. Containment boom has been deployed around the area at the leak and skimmers are being used to recover product. Personnel from Sector Lower Mississippi River, Marine Safety Detachment Vicksburg and the Coast Guard Gulf Strike Team from Mobile, Ala., are on scene and continue to assess the size of the spill and oversee cleanup operation. The tank levels are being constantly monitored for further leakage. The leaking tank contained approximately 80,000 gallons of light crude oil.

28 Jan 2013

Barge Allision in Mississippi River Causes Spill

Coast Guard responds to report of crude oil in Mississippi River. A unified command has been established in response to a report of crude oil in the lower Mississippi River near mile marker 434 in Vicksburg, Miss., Sunday. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River received notification at 1:30 a.m., reporting that two tank barges, towed by the tug Nature's Way Endeavor, allided with the Vicksburg Railroad river bridge. Both of the tank barges were loaded with crude oil; both of the barges were damaged, and one has released oil into lower Mississippi River. The actual amount of product released into the lower Mississippi River has not yet been determined.

16 Jun 2006

Port of Memphis Exercises Security Plans

The Coast Guard, partnered with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies as well as many of the key port players, exercised risk management strategies aimed at protecting the city and the Port of Memphis. The exercise was led by the DHS Protective Security Advisor for the Memphis District, Mr. Greg Innis. The exercise participants included representatives from Coast Guard, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Office of Homeland Security, Tennessee and Shelby County Emergency Management Agencies, Memphis Police Department, Shelby County Sheriff's Department, U.S. Attorney's Office, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, the Port Commission, Railroad Police and many local facility security officers.