All Portions of Mississippi River Reopen

Effective at 1:30 p.m. today, the U.S. Coast Guard advised that the Mississippi River is now open to all traffic. The Coast Guard will require vessels to transit at a “Slow Bell” or slow speed from Mile 150 to Mile 155.

A 65-mile (105-km) stretch of the lower Mississippi River, including the Port of New Orleans, was closed due to a collision between a tanker barge and tow boat Saturday afternoon that spilled 656 barrels of light crude oil into the waterway near Vacherie, Louisiana, about 52 miles west of New Orleans.

According to a Reurers report, a total of 29 vessels have been delayed due to the spill.

No injuries were reported, and the source of the oil has been secured, the Coast Guard said.

Sources: U.S. Coast Guard, Reuters, staff