Collision on Ohio
On December 24, the 28 meter long towboat Christina Belcher collided with a sand barge on the Ohio River at mile marker 952 near Joppa, Illinois. The Christina Belcher was pushing two oil barges loaded with 921,000 gallons of crude oil which struck the loaded sand barge. The sand barge filled with water and sank. One of the oil barges sustained damage, but no reports of pollution released. The Coast Guard dispatched personnel to the scene and have launched an investigation into the incident.