NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard and local agencies continue response efforts to a sunken tow vessel on the Lower Mississippi River near Memphis, Tuesday.
The Mississippi River is open to one way traffic between mile marker 726 to 728 on the Mississippi River to ensure the safety of the public and response crews during cleanup and salvage operations for the William Strait sinking.
Watchstanders with Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River command center received a notification of a collision between the towing vessels Margaret Ann and the William Strait at mile marker 727 on the Lower Mississippi River, Monday. The William Strait sank in 20 feet of water.
Response crews have deployed 1,100 feet of containment boom and 600 feet of sorbent boom around the vessel to prevent any further spreading of pollution.
An overflight is scheduled to be conducted by a Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Century aircraft crew to assess the environmental impact, Tuesday.
A salvage plan is being developed to safely remove the sunken tow vessel.
Assets involved in the William Strait sinking
- A Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Century aircraft crew
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientific support coordinator
- A Coast Guard 25-foot Response B-Small crew
- Memphis Police Department aircraft crew
- National Transportation Safety Board
- Tennessee Department of Environmental Conservation
The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the incident.