American Commercial Barge Lines’ Mike A. Nadicksbernd, an uninspected 131’5”x35’2”x12’ towboat, allided Wednesday with Lock and Dam 52 on the Ohio River, about 1.5 mi. downstream of Brookport, Ill.
Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley watchstanders received a report that the vessel was pinned to the lock wall and had begun taking on water. At the time of the allision, the Mike A. Nadicksbernd was pushing 19 empty barges and one loaded with steel rods, the Coast guard said. The towboat was carrying approximately 47,000 gals. of diesel fuel.
On Thursday, a unified command consisting of the Coast Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and American Commercial Barge Line was established to respond to respond to the incident. The Coast Guard said a lightering plan to remove the fuel from the vessel was pending approval. The river was closed from mile marker 937 to mile marker 941.
Local media reported that there were high winds in the area at the time of the incident.
No injuries or pollution were reported.
