Coast Guard responds to vessel fire on lower Mississippi River

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 02/21/2018 11:48 AM EST

united states coast guard

News Release  

U.S. Coast Guard 8th District Heartland
Contact: 8th District Public Affairs
Office: (504) 671-2020
After Hours: (618) 225-9008
Eighth District online newsroom

February 21, 2018

Coast Guard responds to vessel fire on lower Mississippi River

 

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard is responding to a vessel on fire on the lower Mississippi River near Greenville, Mississippi, Wednesday. 

Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River watchstanders received a report at 7:20 a.m. of the towboat Leland Speaks adrift and on fire on the lower Mississippi River. 

Towboats gained control of the vessel and pushed it aground at mile marker 509.  

The Leland Speaks has an estimated 80,000 gallons aboard and was pushing 21 dry barges.

There are no reports of hazardous material aboard the barges.

The Coast Guard issued a waterway restriction from mile marker 500 to mile marker 520 to limit vessel traffic in the area.

There were eight people aboard the Leland Speaks when the vessel caught fire. The crew reportedly departed the burning vessel onto towboats in there area. There are no reports of injuries.

There are no reports of pollution or impacts to the environment.

The cause of the incident is under investigation.

-USCG-