Stephen L Colby News

Response crews commenced lifting operations of the 154-foot sunken towboat from the Mississippi River bank near LeClaire, Iowa, Monday. Stephen L. Colby salvage crews worked to cradle and dewater the vessel in an effort to remove extra weight while lifting the towboat. Crews dealt with below freezing conditions and long hours throughout response efforts and continue to conduct pollution mitigation through cleanup operations. Approximately 39,900 gallons of oily-water mixture has been recovered from the river, 89,000 gallons of oily-water mixture recovered from the Stephen L.

The U.S. Coast Guard reported that response crews continued work salvaging the partially submerged vessel, Stephen L. Colby, near LeClaire, Iowa despite stormy weather conditions. Crews have been working against deteriorating weather conditions for two days to ensure any spilled fuel is cleaned up and proper salvage preparations are in place to raise the 144-foot towboat. In spite of icing and below freezing conditions salvage crews connected a bow slings to the vessel's frames in preparation for raising the 144-foot towboat from the Mississippi River bank.

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.