On July 6, a 125 meter long barge was blown ashore along the shoreline of Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Philippines. The barge had floated away after its towline broke from the tugboat Trabajador 1. The 69 meter long, 1039 dwt Trabajador 1 was proceeding to Bataan when big waves and strong winds brought on by Typhoon Egay snapped the towing line resulting with the barge washed on to a nearby beach. No reports of injuries.
The 195 foot long towboat American Heritage collided with the towboat David G. Schert on the Mississippi River near Vacherie, Louisiana. After the collision five of the barges being pushed broke free. One barge capsized releasing its cargo of caustic soda solution into the river. Coast Guard reported that upto 23,672 gallons of the solution could have been released into the water. No reports of injuries on either vessel. Traffic was halted on that section of the Mississippi River, but was later reopened. The cause of the collision is under investigation.
On June 14, the 157 foot long towboat Joyce Hale was pushing eight barges on the Illinois River when two barges struck the containment wall at the Starved Rock dam near Utica, Illinois. Four barges broke free with two barges quickly recovered, but two others floated down until they came to rest parallel against the dam. The Joyce Hale recovered the two barges later the same day. No reports of injuries, damage or pollution released. Traffic along the waterway was halted until the barges could be recovered.
