Sector Upper Mississippi River News

Extreme weather events—including both high and low water levels—can wreak havoc on inland waterways transport. In late 2022, severe drought conditions brought the latter to the Mississippi River Basin, underlining the importance of America’s dredging fleet.When the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Memphis District's dredge Hurley returned to its home port, Ensley Engineer Yard, in Memphis Harbor, on January 13, 2023, it wrapped its longest, most productive season on record.

The U.S. Coast Guard and local agencies responded to a multi-barge breakaway in the vicinity of mile markers 176 and 177 on the Upper Mississippi River, Wednesday.Watchstanders at Sector Upper Mississippi River received the report at 3 a.m. that there was a multi-barge breakaway from a fleeting area on the Upper Mississippi River.Multiple towing vessels in the area worked together to account for and secure all the loose barges.The Coast Guard initially closed the river for the safety of those on the waterway…

The Coast Guard has transitioned from pollution response to the investigation phase of a major marine casualty that occurred July 5, 2019, involving three vessels that sank in the Illinois River near Hardin, Illinois.Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River received a report of three tugboats and a deck barge that were tied together and began taking on water at mile marker 20.7 on the Illinois River. Sector UMR responded to the scene to find all three vessels fully submerged.The vessels were identified as Chatty Sue Smith…

The Coast Guard is responding to three vessels that sunk on the Illinois River near Hardin, Illinois, Sunday.Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River received a report Friday of three tugboats and a deck barge that were tied together and began taking on water at mile marker 21 on the Illinois River.The sinking tugboats are holding approximately 4,850 gallons of diesel and oil.Sector Upper Mississippi River dispatched personnel to work with the tugboat company…

The Coast Guard has closed a portion of the Mississippi River to all vessel traffic from mile marker 179 to 184 due to extremely high water levels and fast moving currents, Friday.Vessel operators may request permission to move within the closure zone from the captain of the port representative at Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River via VHF Ch. 16 or at (314) 269-2332 at least 30 minutes prior to movement.Vessel movements within the closure zone should be to monitor or increase waterway and port safety only. The captain of the port will review each request to move within the closure zone on a case-by-base basis.While outside the river closure zone…

Safety Zone; Missouri River, Mile Markers 450–625, St. Joseph, MO to Omaha, NE.The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of the Missouri River from mile marker (MM) 450 to MM 625 between St. Joseph, MO and Omaha, NE. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of persons, vessels, and the marine environment on these navigable waters as a result of flooding on the river that has resulted in some reported levee failures and is threatening…

The Coast Guard issued a waterway closure to all vessel traffic on the Missouri River from mile marker 450 near St. Joseph, Missouri, to mile marker 550 approximately 50 miles south of Omaha, Nebraska, due to high water levels and dangerous currents, Friday.The Coast Guard and Army Corps of Engineers are requesting all operators create as minimal wake as possible between mile marker 375 near Kansas City, Missouri, to mile marker 450 near St. Joseph, Missouri, on the Missouri River to minimize levee damage.Restrictions to operations will be lifted as soon as conditions improve.“The safety of the maritime public is the Coast Guard’s top priority,” said Lt.

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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 yesterday has closed a portion of the Upper Mississippi River to all vessel traffic from mile markers 184 to 179, due to hazardous condition on the river near St. Louis. Capt. Martin Malloy, Upper Mississippi River Captain of the Port, closed the portion of the river near MacArthur Bridge due to extremely high water levels and fast currents caused by a sudden increase in severe weather around the central United States. Malloy, as Captain of the Port determines when to issue a river closure by following a Waterways Action Plan, which provides the marine industry, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, state and local governments with a plan for facilitating the safe and orderly movement of traffic during extreme conditions on the inland rivers.

The U.S. Coast Guard is responding to the report of a missing person and capsized vessel in the Upper Mississippi River, Monday. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River received the report Sunday at approximately 7:30 p.m of a capsized towing vessel at mile marker 173 on the Upper Mississippi River. Reports state three people were aboard the towboat and that two were rescued by the St. Louis Fire Department. The 61-foot towing vessel, Charlie Boy has approximately 9,350 gallons of fuel and other oils on board. Sector Upper Mississippi River issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast and has closed the waterway from mile marker 165 to 178. There are no vessels in the queue at this time.

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) reopened the Upper Mississippi River near St. Louis to recreational vessel traffic, Monday, the USCG said today in a press announcement. The USCG closed the river to all recreational traffic on Friday between Lock and Dam 27 in Granite City, Illinois and the Jefferson Barrack Bridge in St. Louis due to extreme high water, reporting that the river in St. Louis crested late Friday at nearly 31 feet. "Although the river is reopened, the Coast Guard urges mariners to continue to exercise extreme caution when operating in the Port of St. Louis due to large debris and swift currents," said Lt. Tim Marriott, Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River public affairs officer. uscgnews.com

The Coast Guard informs it is responding with St. Louis Fire Department to the sinking of a towing vessel on the Mississippi River near the St. Louis Riverfront. Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River received a report that the towing vessel Jim Marko owned by Osage Marine sank near the Stan Musial Memorial Bridge, with about 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel on board. The Mississippi River is closed between lock and dam 27 and the Eads Bridge. Pollution responders from Sector Upper Mississippi and the St. Louis Fire Department are on scene. The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the incident, and adds that there were no injuries reported.

The Coast Guard captain of the port reopened the Mississippi River from mile marker 493 to mile marker 501 on the upper Mississippi River at approximately 6 p.m. Tuesday. The Coast Guard, Illinois EPA, Illinois DNR and local emergency crews continue to respond to oil discharge into the Mississippi River near LeClaire, Iowa from the partially submerged towboat. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River received a report at approximately 4:30 p.m., Monday that the 144-foot towboat Stephen L. Colby struck a submerged object near LeClaire causing it to sink.

The 144-foot towboat 'Stephen L. Colby
' struck a submerged object near LeClaire and sank. At the time of the sinking, nine crewmembers were aboard and all were able to make it to safety, reports the Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River. Approximately 100,000 gallons of petroleum products are reported to be on board the sunken vessel, and the Captain of the Port closed the Mississippi River from mile marker 493 to mile maker 501 on the upper Mississippi River to allow for safe, effective clean-up and salvage operations. Coast Guard personnel, along with Illinois EPA and local emergency response crews, are taking action to evaluate and respond to environmental damage. "The Coast Guard and our partner agencies are rapidly assessing and responding to the evolving situation" said Capt.

The Coast Guard Captain of the Port of St. Louis has restricted traffic on the Mississippi River in response to high water, Monday. The upper Mississippi River is closed to all traffic from mile marker 179 to mile marker 184 near the St. Louis Harbor. Fleet vessels are permitted to operate in the zone to ensure the safety and integrity of their fleets. The Coast Guard encourages mariners to ensure that moored vessels and barges are adequately secured with the anticipation of increased current and high water. Debris may be an increased hazard to navigation and may drag buoys off station. The USCG advises that mariners exercise caution when dislodging debris from fleeting areas and communicate the same to downstream fleets.

Personnel from Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River have contacted and safety-checked more than 74 towing vessels and examined 310 mariner licenses and have found no discrepancies in the early phases of Operation Big Tow in the upper Mississippi River region. Operation Big Tow, a national initiative that began in the upper Mississippi River region Saturday, is using safety spot checks, vessel and operator credential examinations, and company audits to ensure towing vessels are being operated safely and are manned by properly licensed individuals. To minimize the impact to vessel movements or the flow of commerce, the Coast Guard is working with industry and towing vessel operators to conduct examinations at locks and dams…

The Coast Guard responded to an incident on the Mississippi River that resulted in approximately 45 barges breaking free of their moorings in the vicinity of the Osage fleeting area approximately 1 mile south of the Popular Street Bridge. The Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River Command Center received a call from the manager at Osage Marine informing the Coast Guard of the multiple barge break away. The Coast Guard immediately broadcasted a notice to mariners of the situation and requested towboats in the area to assist. The Coast Guard values the assistance provided by the towboats in the area during the recovery operation. All barges were reported secured.

Coast Guard Captain of the Port Captain Sharon Richey, commanding officer of Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River, issued an order today lifting the restrictions on vessel traffic transit through the affected area of the Mississippi River at the Interstate 35 Bridge collapse site here. The bridge was closed at mile marker 853.2, due to salvage and debris removal operations. All mariners are urged to exercise extreme caution when transiting this area and to monitor marine channel 16 for future river updates.

The Coast Guard has closed the Upper Mississippi River on Sunday from mile marker 130 to 144, to all vessel traffic due to a towboat accident which resulted in one sunken barge and 6 others damaged. The towboat John Paul Eckstein, lost power and ran its 25 barge tow into a dock near mile marker 144, approximately 20 miles above St. Genevieve, MO. As a result of the accident, the tow broke apart and all 25 barges were set adrift. All of the barges, except one were recovered. The Coast Guard will reopen vessel traffic in the affected area upon location of the sunken barge and once the channel is cleared and safe for vessel traffic transit.