Crude Oil Barges Strike Railroad Bridge on Mississippi River, Spill Reported

Nature’s Way Endeavor, image via Natures Way Marine

The U.S. Coast Guard reports that two tank barges allided with a Mississippi River railroad overpass on Sunday, spilling an unknown quantity of light crude oil into the river.

The two barges, towed by the tug Nature’s Way Endeavor, allided with the Vicksburg Railroad river bridge shortly before 1:30 AM on Sunday morning.  Both barges were damaged, and one has released oil into lower Mississippi River according to the USCG report.

“The source has been contained and tank levels are being monitored for further leakage,” the Coast Guard said in a statement. “Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Vicksburg has dispatched a pollution response team to assess the size of the spill and oversee cleanup operations.”

The tanker contained 80,000 gallons of crude oil, or nearly 2,000 barrels.

The Coast Guard said it closed a section of the lower Mississippi River to all traffic from mile marker 425 to mile marker 441 near Vicksburg.

No injuries were reported.

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