Section of Ohio River closed due to towboat fire

Capt Kirby Dupuis20110614bsmith At Harvey Locks Img 4504

(NEW ORLEANS) — The U.S. Coast Guard issued a waterway restriction Tuesday to all vessel traffic on the Ohio River near Belleview, Ky.

The waterway restriction closes the river to all vessel traffic between mile marker 499 and mile marker 501 on the Ohio River and was put into place due to a fire aboard the towing vessel Capt. Kirby Dupuis.

The towing vessel was in transit when the engine room reportedly caught on fire. The crew was able to temporarily extinguish the fire with its fire suppression system but a re-flash occurred.

The fire has been extinguished and the cause is under investigation. There are currently no vessels in the queue.

The 116-foot Capt. Kirby Dupuis is operated by Florida Marine Transporters. It was built by Horizon Shipbuilding in 2010.

– U.S. Coast Guard

Photo Courtesy Horizon Shipbuilding Inc 4602
Horizon Shipbuilding photo
By Professional Mariner Staff