Posted on October 8, 2020
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KFVS) – A salvage operation is underway on the Mississippi River to remove a barge.
Lance Engle, a dredging project manager with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said a barge carrying cement mix sank in mid-January 2020.
The barge company is required to remove the barge. However, work could not begin until river levels were low enough.
Drone12: Barge on the Mississippi River 10/1
Engle said it could take several months to remove the barge because they believe the cement had hardened.
Timothy Veach, a chief waterways manager for the U.S. Coast Guard, said it is especially important to remove the barge to keep the channel clear for other barges.
Barges need a 9-foot depth for easy navigation.
If water levels were to get too low, Veach said the sunken barge could become a hazard for other traffic along the river.
The Coast Guard issued a broadcast to mariners alerting them about the work narrowing the channel by Cape Girardeau.
Source: kfvs12.com
