Ohio River Barge Collision; Mount Vernon, Indiana

Mount Vernon, Indiana | 1999-Aug-09

Initial Notification: Three barges were involved in a collision on the Ohio River at Mile 828 at 0845 Monday morning. Two Barges carrying gasoline were transiting the river where the pushing tug lost steerage and rammed into a fleeted barge nested near the river bank on Kentucky State side. The resultant collision caused approximately 69,000 gallons of gasoline to spew into the river from the leading barge and an unknown amount from the second barge. There was additional damage to the nested barge which carried cumene and is believed that some product is also leaking but is considered minimal. A water intake was secured and a diversion boom deployed for the city of Mount Vernon, Indiana. Monitoring and sampling of water quality is in progress to determine when it is safe to open up the intake to replenish the city's water supply. USCG district 8. Keyword: boom, evaporation.