NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard is responding to a barge sinking at mile marker 435.8 on the Mississippi River near Vicksburg, Miss., Wednesday.
The towing vessel Inez Andreas allided with the Vicksburg Railroad Bridge, after which two barges broke free, one of which sank.
Towing vessels in the area assisted in securing the barge that broke free. A surveyor from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers located the barge that sank and found that it does not pose a hazard to navigation. The river is currently open.
The railroad bridge will remain closed until a safety inspection is completed by the Vicksburg Bridge Commission and the State of Mississippi.
The cause of the incident is under investigation. As this is the second bridge allision in as many days, the Coast Guard is evaluating additional navigation safety measures in order to limit the potential for future marine accidents.