The 146-foot long, 416 ton towboat Mary L with a tow of eleven empty barges was forced to run aground as it approached the Barkley Dam on the Cumberland River causing it to strike one of the piers of the Eureka Highway Bridge. An inspection found no damage to the bridge. The cause of the grounding was due to the high volume of water being discharged from the Barkley Dam. No injuries or damage to the barges.
The 168 foot long towboat Jay Luhr allided with a Railroad Bridge near Thebes, Illinois on the Mississippi River causing all 25 barges loaded with rock to break loose. Twenty four barges have been recovered with one still in the waterway. No reports of injuries or pollution being released. The Coast Guard is investigating the incident.
The towboat Gentry B pushing four empty barges on the Ohio River struck the Calhoun Lock and Dam No. 2. causing the barges to partially break free. Later the same day, the 102 foot long towboat Hazel pushing four barges loaded with coal struck the Calhoun Lock and Dam No. 2 causing all four barges to break free. Three barges became stuck on the dam while the forth barge went over the dam resulting in the barge having water ingress. Workers were able to pump out water from the waterlogged barge. They transfered the coal off the barges to allow the barges to be pulled away from the dam to the shoreline. An inspection of the barges will be done before they continue down the river. No reports of injures or pollution being released.
