Towboat Collision on Mississippi
On September 2, two towboats collided on the Mississippi River near Columbus, Kentucky. Reports state six barges were damaged by the collision including one barge carrying 1 million gallons of slurry oil. The barge had one of its tanks ruptured releasing some 120,000 gallons of the 250,000 in the tank hold. Reports state the pollution has been released into the river, but the slurry oil is heavier than water and collects below the surface making estimates difficult. The Coast Guard along with the owner of the barge have dispatched a pollution response team to the scene. Traffic along the 17 miles stretch of the river has been halted. No reports of injuries.
