Sunday, September 6, 2015

UPDATE 6: MASSIVE SLURRY OIL SPILL RESPONSE AFTER TUG BOAT COLLISION NEAR COLUMBUS


U.S. Coast Guard Heartland
4 hrs ·


PADUCAH, Ky. – The unified command in Paducah continues to respond to a spill in the Mississippi River at mile marker 937.


Lightering operations on the damaged barge have begun to remove the remaining clarified slurry oil, and arrangements are being made to move the barge out of the area.


A safety zone remains in effect from mile marker 936 to mile marker 938. Vessel traffic is restricted to one-way traffic and shall coordinate movement through the safety zone with the motor vessel Joe B. Wyatt on Channel 13.


Approximately 80 vessels have transited through the safety zone since it reopened Friday night.


The Columbus boat ramp will remain closed until the safety zone has been removed.


The cause of the incident is under investigation by the Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board.