Slurry oil spilled from a barge into the Mississippi River Thursday afternoon following an allision with the Natchez-Vidalia U.S. 84 Bridge, near Natchez, Miss.
The 132’x38’x8’7” Amy Frances, owned by Magnolia Marine Transport, Jackson, Miss., allided with the bridge while transporting six barges, four filled with slurry oil and two empty, according to the Coast Guard, which received a call about the incident shortly after 1 p.m.
The allision caused damage to at least one barge containing slurry oil — the vessel reportedly has a maximum potential of up to 1,006,026 gals. of slurry oil on board — and an unknown amount was discharged into the river, the Coast Guard said.
An oily sheen was reportedly observed in the vicinity of the allision, and the Coast Guard is working with state and local agencies, and the barge owner to determine the amount of slurry oil that has been discharged.
The Captain of the Port has issued a waterway restriction from mile marker 363 near Natchez, Miss. north to mile marker 438 near Vicksburg, Miss. (where another bridge allision occurred Thursday). The restriction is for towboats pushing barges to not transit under the bridges.
The incident is under investigation.
