Fire Ravages Towing Vessel on Lower Mississippi River Near Vicksburg

Photo shows the towing vessel George King after it experienced an engine fire on the Mississippi River near Vicksburg, Mississippi, January 26, 2018. U.S. Coast Guard Photo

The U.S. Coast Guard and local agencies on Friday were continuing to monitor a towing vessel fire at mile marker 390 on the lower Mississippi River near Vicksburg, Mississippi.

The fire aboard the George King has been extinguished, but not before the it had ripped through the entire vessel from bow to stern.

Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River watchstanders received a notification at 8:50 p.m. Wednesday regarding the George King reporting an engine room fire with nine crewmembers aboard.

The crewmembers abandoned the George King to the dry cargo barges it was pushing with no reported injuries. The C. Michael Reeves was able to push the George King and its barges onto the left descending bank of the Mississippi River.

A waterway restriction put in place between mile marker 395 and mile marker 380 was lifted on Thursday at 12:28 p.m.

United States Environmental Services has set boom and absorbent pads around the George King with no reports of pollution.

The George King has an estimated 65,000 gallons of diesel on board.

The Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident.

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