The U.S. Coast Guard has reopened the Mississippi River tonight near St. Louis, Missouri after a 70-foot towing vessel named Jim Marko sank earlier on Tuesday near the Stan Musial Memorial Bridge.
There were reportedly 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel aboard the 140 ton vessel when it sank.
The Coast Guard notes that “due to high water and rapid currents in the port of St. Louis, salvage of the vessel will be delayed until river conditions are safe to do so.”
The vessel is owned by Mike’s Marine and operated by Osage Marine, Inc. There were no injuries to the four crew members aboard as a result of the sinking.
A pollution response team is on standby and the situation is being monitored by the Coast Guard as well as federal, state and local agencies.