Towing Vessel Fire on Lower Mississippi River

The Coast Guard and local agencies are responding to a vessel fire at mile marker 390 on the lower Mississippi River near Vicksburg, Mississippi, January 25, 2018. U.S. Coast Guard Photo

The U.S. Coast Guard and other federal and local authorities are responding to a towing vessel fire on the lower Mississippi River near Vicksburg, Mississippi.

The Coast Guard reported Thursday that Sector Lower Mississippi River watchstanders received a notification at approximately 8:50 p.m. Wednesday that the uninspected towing vessel George King  had suffered an engine room fire with nine crewmembers aboard.

The fire forced crewmembers to abandon ship to the dry cargo barges the George King was pushing at the time. Another uninspected towing vessel, the C. Michael Reeves, was then able to push the George King and its barges onto the left descending bank of the Mississippi River at mile marker 390.

No injuries have been reported. 

The George King is reported to have 65,000 gallons of diesel on board.

The Coast Guard has placed a waterway restriction from mile marker 395 to mile marker 380. The queue is nine vessels upbound and three vessels downbound.

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