The Coast Guard is investigating and responding to an allision on the Mississippi River that resulted in a 30-barge breakaway Wednesday near Thebes, Ill.
ACBL River Operations' 170’x48’x11’5” 8,000-hp Michael G. Morris allided with the Thebes railroad bridge at approximately 5 a.m. Wednesday, letting loose its full tow of grain barges. According to the Coast Guard, two of the barges sank — one next to the railroad bridge and the other at mile marker 42.
The agency has established an incident command post at Marine Safety Unit Paducah, Ky., and is working with the Army Corps of Engineers and the barge owners to supervise salvage operations.
The Mississippi River is now closed to all traffic from mile marker 44 to mile marker 20, with the exception of authorized vessels involved in the incident.
The Thebes railroad bridge was inspected after the allision and has since been reopened to all traffic, the Coast Guard said.
KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar Bluff
