On May 4, the 43 meter long ro-ro ferry Jean Ribault (MMSI: 367475030) allided on the St. Johns River with the ramp at Mayport, Florida. The ferry was attempting to depart from Mayport when it struck the boarding ramp. There were no reports of injuries, but the Jean Ribault was taken out of service after the incident. Reports state the ferry and ramp were being inspected and will undergo repairs as needed. Authorities have launched an investigation into incident.
On the afternoon of May 5, the 82.5 meter long, 3480 dwt carbon dioxide tanker Embla (IMO: 9279446) allided on the Kiel Canal in Brunsbüttel, Germany. The Embla was headed for Hamburg from Kiel when it struck the center wall in the new south lock. The Embla only suffered slight damage to its paint and the lock wall only suffered minor damage. There were no injuries and no pollution released. The water police opened an investigation into the incident.
On the morning of May 5, the 47 meter long towboat Myra Eckstein (MMSI: 367505510) and its tow of barges allided with the Old Highway 80 Bridge on the Mississippi River at Vicksburg, Mississippi. The Myra Eckstein was pushing 25 barges loaded with grain when it struck pier number 4 off the bridge. This is the same location that the towboat Rickey Hughes struck just a few days prior.
Local news reports state the lead barge in the tow struck the bridge before it broke free along with four other barges. Three barges drifted downstream while one other struck pier number 5 of the bridge before it also floated downstream. One barge was holed and sank a short distance downriver. Authorities state the barges did not strike the nearby Interstate 20 bridge.
There were no reports of injuries. Traffic on the Old Highway Bridge has been halted until it can be inspected for damage. The Coast Guard was reported to be onsite at bridge and has launched an investigation into the incident.