Coast Guard responds to partially submerged vessel

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

Coast Guard responds to partially submerged vessel

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard is responding to a partially submerged vessel on the Upper Mississippi River near Cairo, Illinois, Tuesday.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley received a report at 2 p.m. of the harbor tug vessel, Totem Kole II, taking on water at mile marker 59.7 on the Upper Mississippi River.

The vessel is grounded at a nearby embankment on the left descending bank of the river.

All crewmembers departed the vessel safely.

There is a reported 800 gallons of diesel fuel and 60 gallons of oil onboard the vessel. An unknown amount of product is reported to have gone into the water.

An oil spill response organization has deployed containment boom around the vessel to prevent the spread of pollution.

Coast Guard crews are scheduled to arrive on scene tomorrow in response to the incident.

There are no waterway closures or restrictions due to the incident.

The cause of the incident is under investigation.

-USCG-