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.
The Coast Guard is working the the Army Corps of Engineers and the owners of a tug and barges to quickly and safely move two barges that drifted into the protection cells of Starved Rock Lock and Dam in Utica, Ill., June 14, 2015. The Joyce Hale was pushing eight barges of dry cargo south on the Illinois River when two of the eight barges it was pushing made contact with the protection walls of the Starved Rock Lock and Dam in Utica, causing four barges to break free, and the crew recovered two immediately. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
The Coast Guard is working the the Army Corps of Engineers and the owners of a tug and barges to quickly and safely move two barges that drifted into the protection cells of Starved Rock Lock and Dam in Utica, Ill., June 14, 2015. The Joyce Hale was pushing eight barges of dry cargo south on the Illinois River when two of the eight barges it was pushing made contact with the protection walls of the Starved Rock Lock and Dam in Utica, causing four barges to break free, and the crew recovered two immediately. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
The Coast Guard is working the the Army Corps of Engineers and the owners of a tug and barges to quickly and safely move two barges that drifted into the protection cells of Starved Rock Lock and Dam in Utica, Ill., June 14, 2015. The Joyce Hale was pushing eight barges of dry cargo south on the Illinois River when two of the eight barges it was pushing made contact with the protection walls of the Starved Rock Lock and Dam in Utica, causing four barges to break free, and the crew recovered two immediately. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
The 23 meter long, 180 tonne towboat Gisela and a barge allided on the Danube near Regensburg, Germany. The Gisela was pushing a barge loaded with gravel when it struck a pillar of a stone bridge causing a 15 centimeter crack along the hull plating. The vessel suffered water ingress and the vessel requested assistance. The water police and fire brigade arrived on scene. A boom was placed around the vessels to contain any pollution while additional pumps to keep the flooding under control. Divers were requested and reports state a patch was to seal the leak before the Gisela could proceed. No reports of injuries and traffic on the Danube was not restricted. The water police has launched an investigation into the incident.
