Coast Guard responds to tug and barge accident in Louisville, Kentucky

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 tug and barge accident in Louisville, Kentucky

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Coast Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers and Tennessee Valley Towing Company, the responsible party, are responding to a tug and barge accident on the Ohio River in Louisville, Kentucky, Wednesday.

 

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley received a report at approximately 8:10 p.m., Tuesday, that the towing vessel Debbie Graham, which was pushing 15 loaded coal barges, made contact with the 2nd Street Bridge on the Ohio River.

 

The contact caused the vessel’s 15 barges to break free.

 

Six barges have been recovered.

 

The Army Corps of Engineers reported nine barges are laying on the dam just above the falls and two may be capsized.

 

The Coast Guard is working with the Army Corps of Engineers and the responsible party to plan and direct response efforts using a variety of resources.

 

The Coast Guard closed the Ohio River to all vessel traffic from Twelve Mile Island to McAlpine Lock and Dam.

 

The Indiana Department of Transportation also completed inspection of the 2nd Street Bridge and reported it is safe for vehicle traffic.

 

The cause of the incident is under investigation.

 

For more information, please contact the Sector Ohio Valley public affairs officer, Lt. Cmdr. Michael Metz, at (502) 715-1429.

-USCG-