Barge Sinks After Tow Hits Bridge

The Vicksburg Post reported May 17 that a 30-barge tow struck the old U.S. 80 bridge crossing the Mississippi River in Vickburg, Miss., at about 2 p.m. The allision led to the sinking of a grain barge.

According to the newspaper, Petty Officer Erik Brehaut with the Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River said the mv. Jeffrey G, owned by Marquette Transportation Company, was traveling southbound on the river when it struck the bridge.

Hermann Smith, bridge superintendent, told the paper that the tow struck pier 4 on the Louisiana side of the bridge. Smith said the railroad bridge was closed and a bridge engineer examined the pier.

According to Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace, some of the 30 barges in the tow broke free, one of which sank. The remaining barges were gathered with help from Ergon Marine.

The Jeffrey G is a twin-screw, 8,000 hp. towboat built by Jeffboat in 1984. The 155-foot-long vessel was purchased by Marquette Transportation Company in 2011.