(NEW ORLEANS) — The U.S. Coast Guard continues to respond to multiple barge groundings due to low water levels in the Lower Mississippi River.
There are reports of barge groundings Tuesday near Stack Island, Miss., with a waterway restriction from mile marker 478 to 492, and Memphis, Tenn., with a waterway closure from mile marker 686 to 676.
“Due to low water levels on the Lower Mississippi River, we have seen an increase in commercial vessel groundings,” said Capt. Eric Carrero, director of Western rivers and waterways at Coast Guard District 8. “In response, the Coast Guard established a Marine Transportation System Recovery Unit with our federal, state, local and maritime industry partners to facilitate safe navigation and the continued flow of commerce along the affected waterways.”
The Marine Transportation System Recovery Unit will coordinate and facilitate waterway recovery, track the status of the waterway, recommend course of action to the captain of the port, resume maritime commerce flow, and provide a forum for all stakeholders.
Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River has reported eight groundings in the past week due to low water levels.
For more information regarding the low water levels, read Lower Mississippi River Low Water Conditions MM 869-303 and MSIB Vol XXII Issue 053 Low Water Safety Advisory: Mississippi River MM 0.0 to MM 167.5 AHP.
– U.S. Coast Guard
