One Missing After Towing Vessel Sinks in Upper Mississippi River

The U.S. Coast Guard and local emergency responders searched Monday for missing person and capsized towing vessel on the Upper Mississippi River near St. Louis.

The Coast Guard said it received a report Sunday at a approximately 7:30 p.m of a capsized towing vessel at mile marker 173 on the Upper Mississippi River. Reports said three people were aboard the 61-foot Charlie Boy when it capsized, and that only two were rescued by the St. Louis Fire Department. The vessel has approximately 9,350 gallons of fuel and other oils on board.

The Coast Guard has closed the waterway from mile marker 165 to 178 and issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast as crews try to located the vessel.

Ste. Genevieve Sheriff’s Dept is conducting the search for the missing person between miles 148 and 109.9, with St. Louis Fire Department and Missouri State Water Patrol aiding in the search.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is also conducting a search in the St. Louis Harbor area and assisting with a survey boat to locate the sunken vessel.

So far there have been no reported signs of pollution, the Coast Guard said.

Upon locating the vessel the owner will submit a salvage plan and remove the vessel from the waterway.

The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the incident.

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