The Unified Command continues to respond to a sunken 80'x28' towboat at mile marker 940 along the Mississippi River near Columbus, Kentucky, Sunday. Salvage crews are preparing the vessel to be raised out of the water. Approximately 100 gallons of diesel fuel was discharged from the vessel, Saturday. SWS Environmental Services contained and collected the spilled fuel, and salvage crews secured the source of the discharge. Shoreline assessments have been conducted and crews observed no signs of pollution.
Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley watchstanders were notified on Monday, April 17, 2017, that the Todd Brown was sinking along the right descending bank of the Lower Mississippi River at mile marker 940 near Columbus, Ky., the Coast Guard said. The towboat is owned by Ingram Barge Co.
The U.C. has been established, made up of the Coast Guard, Ingram, the Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection, and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Salvage equipment, crews, and divers are on scene to recover the troubled vessel. There are currently no restrictions to commercial or recreational vessel traffic due to the incident.The towboat had approximately 17,500 gals. of diesel fuel, 150 gals. lube oil, and 150 gals. hydraulic oil onboard. Boom has been deployed to mitigate a pollution release.
An investigation into the cause of the sinking continues.
