The following is a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard:
(MEMPHIS, Tenn.) — The Coast Guard is responding to a report of a sunken towing vessel at mile marker 832 of Everett Lake near Dyersburg, Tenn., on Tuesday.
Watch standers at Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River received a report that the motor vessel Ms. Nancy C., owned by Choctaw Transportation Co., was in the process of building a tow at a fleeting area when it began taking on water.
While attempting to dewater the vessel, the two people aboard departed to retrieve another dewatering pump. Upon their return, the stern of the vessel had sunk.
Approximately 3,000 gallons of diesel is estimated to be on board. Boom has been deployed to contain the release of oil.
The cause of the incident is under investigation.
