Barge Shuts Down Intracoastal Waterway

A partially sunken barge blocked traffic in the Intracoastal Waterway on January 24, halting shipments and costing businesses hundreds of thousands of dollars. Ms. Angel, the giant barge carrying a full load of crushed limestone, began sinking earlier that morning. It was not known when the canal would be reopened. Chemical and petroleum industries, as well as industries transporting dry cargo, including grain and commodities, could be affected because of the blocked waterway. The Coast Guard was notified of the 264-foot sinking barge at approximately 5:15 a.m. Tuesday. The barge rested at mile marker 171, about a mile west of the Forked Island Bridge. By late morning, the traffic was stopped in that reach of the canal. The barge is owned by Lalande Towing Operators LLC based out of New Iberia. (Source: The Daily Advertiser)