Update 4: Unified Command responds to sunken vessel

News Release

April 23, 2017 U.S. Coast Guard 8th District Heartland Contact: 8th District Public Affairs Office: (504) 671-2020 After Hours: (618) 225-9008

Update 4: Unified Command responds to sunken vessel

 

NEW ORLEANS - The Unified Command continues to respond to a sunken vessel at mile marker 940 along the Mississippi River near Columbus, Kentucky, Sunday.

Salvage crews are preparing the vessel to be raised out of the water.

Approximately 100 gallons of diesel fuel was discharged from the vessel, Saturday.

SWS Enviromental Services contained and collected the spilled fuel.

Salvage crews secured the source of the discharge.

Shoreline assessments have been conducted and crews observed no signs of pollution.

There are currently no restrictions to commercial or recreational vessel traffic due to the incident.

The UC consists of the Coast Guard, Ingram Barge Company, Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection, and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley watchstanders were notified Monday of the vessel Todd Brown sinking along the right descending bank of the Lower Mississippi River.

The Todd Brown has approximately 17,500 gallons of diesel fuel, 150 gallons of lube oil, and 150 gallons of hydraulic oil on board.

SWS Environmental Services is on scene monitoring the situation and boom has been deployed to mitigate a pollution release.

The cause of the incident is under investigation.

 

-USCG-