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US Coast Guard investigating oil spill near Blytheville

KASU | By KASU Newsroom
Published January 24, 2018 at 2:10 PM CST
Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River and local agencies are responding to a sunken vessel discharging oil near mile marker 823 on the lower Mississippi River near Blytheville, Arkansas, January 24, 2017. Sector Lower Mississippi River watchstanders were notified by Terral River Service of the uninspected towing vessel Virginia Renee sunk at its mooring at Hickman Landing.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Brandon Giles / U.S. Coast Guard
Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River and local agencies are responding to a sunken vessel discharging oil near mile marker 823 on the lower Mississippi River near Blytheville, Arkansas, January 24, 2017. Sector Lower Mississippi River watchstanders were notified by Terral River Service of the uninspected towing vessel Virginia Renee sunk at its mooring at Hickman Landing.
Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River and local agencies are responding to a sunken vessel discharging oil near mile marker 823 on the lower Mississippi River near Blytheville, Arkansas, January 24, 2017. Sector Lower Mississippi River watchstanders were notified by Terral River Service of the uninspected towing vessel Virginia Renee sunk at its mooring at Hickman Landing.
Credit Petty Officer 3rd Class Brandon Giles / U.S. Coast Guard
Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River and local agencies are responding to a sunken vessel discharging oil near mile marker 823 on the lower Mississippi River near Blytheville, Arkansas, January 24, 2017. Sector Lower Mississippi River watchstanders were notified by Terral River Service of the uninspected towing vessel Virginia Renee sunk at its mooring at Hickman Landing.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Coast Guard is responding to a sunken vessel discharging oil near mile marker 823 on the lower Mississippi River near Blytheville, Arkansas, Wednesday.

Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River watchstanders were notified by Terral River Service at 5:35 a.m. of the uninspected towing vessel Virginia Renee sunk at its mooring at Hickman Landing. The Virginia Renee has a reported 10,000 gallons of diesel aboard.

Involved in the response are:

  • Sector Lower Mississippi River
  • Enhanced Environmental and Emergency Services (E3)
  • Budwine & Associates, INC.
  • Big River Shipbuilders

Boom and absorbent pads are being used to mitigate the spread of product and divers are on scene. A plan is being developed to salvage the vessel.

The Coast Guard is investigating the incident. This is an official press release from the Heartland division of the U.S. Coast Guard.

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