Update: A fifth towing vessel has hit the identical Vicksburg Railroad Bridge prompting officers to shut the river to towing vessels pushing barges underneath bridges, the U.S. Coast Guard mentioned late Thursday.

The newest incident occurred Thursday afternoon and concerned the towing vessel Thomas Kay. One ethanol barge has been broken and the opposite eighteen dry cargo barges reported no harm.

 The Captain of the Port has issued a waterway restriction calling for all towboats pushing barges to not transit underneath the bridges from mile marker 363 close to Natchez, Mississippi north to mile marker 438 close to Vicksburg. 

Earlier Thursday, the Coast Guard mentioned {that a} totally different towing vessel had additionally allided with the Vicksburg Railroad Bridge on Wednesday, marking the fourth incident involving a towing vessel hitting the bridge in simply over per week as floodwaters proceed to affect transport on the Mississippi River.

The U.S. Coast Guard mentioned that Wednesday’s incident was reported simply after 10 a.m. and concerned the towing vessel Wally Roller. All six barges in that case broke free, however they had been all accounted for by Thursday morning.

The two allisions observe three related incidents involving the identical bridge final week. The Vicksburg Railroad Bridge, situated at mile marker 435.8 on the Mississippi River close to Vicksburg, Mississippi.

The first incident was reported final Tuesday when the towing vessel Ron W. Callegan pushing 22 barges struck the bridge, inflicting 9 of the barges to interrupt free. A day later, one other towing vessel, the Inez Andreas, additionally hit the bridge, inflicting two barges to interrupt free. The third incident occurred final Thursday when a barge being pushed by towing vessel Robert D. Byrd struck the bridge at about roughly 7:44 a.m.

The Vicksburg Railroad Bridge is to stay closed till a security inspection is accomplished by the Vicksburg Bridge Commission and the State of Mississippi, the Coast Guard mentioned.

The newest replace from the National Weather Service’s Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service mentioned the Mississippi River at Vicksburg was at 49.1 toes, greater than 6 toes above flood stage.

The Coast Guard has mentioned it’s evaluating extra navigation security measures with a view to scale back the potential for future marine accidents.

All 5 incidents are underneath investigation.