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Breakaway barges close Mississippi River, collide with vessels

A 22-barge breakaway hit three vessels and caused the closure of part of the Mississippi River.

Marcus Hand, Editor

January 21, 2016

1 Min Read
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According to the US Coast Guard (USCG) the incident took place at the 54 mile marker on the Mississippi River near West Point a la Hache.

The USCG said three deep-drafted vessels transiting the river were damaged by the breakaway barges and one lost part of its cargo of soy beans. All three vessels have now been safely anchored.

The river has been closed between the 51 and 54 mile marker.

“The Coast Guard continues to work with the responsible party to ensure all barges are accounted for. The cause of the incident is under investigation,” USCG said.

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About the Author

Marcus Hand

Editor

Marcus Hand is the editor of Seatrade Maritime News and a dedicated maritime journalist with over two decades of experience covering the shipping industry in Asia.

Marcus is also an experienced industry commentator and has chaired many conferences and round tables. Before joining Seatrade at the beginning of 2010, Marcus worked for the shipping industry journal Lloyd's List for a decade and before that the Singapore Business Times covering shipping and aviation.

In November 2022, Marcus was announced as a member of the Board of Advisors to the Singapore Journal of Maritime Talent and Technology (SJMTT) to help bring together thought leadership around the key areas of talent and technology.

Marcus is the founder of the Seatrade Maritime Podcast that delivers commentary, opinions and conversations on shipping's most important topics.

Conferences & Webinars

Marcus Hand regularly moderates at international maritime events. Below you’ll find a list of selected past conferences and webinars.

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