High water on the Mississippi River continues to wreck havoc on barge transport on Lower Mississippi River. 

By our depend, a minimum of 50 barges have damaged free and several other others have been broken or sunk from the excessive water attributable to one of many worst flooding occasions in fashionable historical past within the area.

The mayhem began in direction of the top of 2015 when torrential rains hammered the midwest, pushing water ranges in a number of of the area’s rivers previous flood stage as they emptied into the Mississippi River, sending floodwaters raging in direction of the economic south.

Here’s a timeline of occasions and incidents we’ve seen to date on the Lower Mississippi River:

Dec. 31 – The Coast Guard points its first High Water Safety Advisory for the Lower Mississippi River, warning that top waters are anticipated for a number of weeks primarily based on forecasts.

Jan. 10 – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers opens the Bonnet Carre Spillway in Norco, Louisiana to alleviate excessive water ranges within the Mississippi River close to New Orleans. The opening is the primary because the Spring of 2011 when heavy rainfall within the central U.S. mixed with seasonal snowmelt, inflicting flooding on a scale not seen since first half of the twentieth century.

Jan. 12 – Four barges breakaway from the towing vessel Cynthya G. Esper after alliding with the Helena Highway Bridge pier at mile marker 661.7 close to Helena, Arkansas at about 10 p.m. Two of the barges carrying denatured alcohol are broken, spilling 292,000 gallons into the water over a four-day interval.

Jan. 12 – The Ron W. Callegan hits the Vicksburg Railroad Bridge at mile marker 435.8 close to Vicksburg, Mississippi. Nine of the 22 barges containing coal break away, two of which sank. Coast Guard restricts maritime visitors to vessels responding to the incident.

Jan. 13 – The towing vessel Inez Andreas hits the identical Vicksburg Railroad Bridge, inflicting two barges to interrupt free together with one which sank. The river stays open, however the Coast Guard begins evaluating extra security measures to restrict future incidents.

Jan. 14 – The vessel Robert D. Byrd allides with the Vicksburg Railroad Bridge at 7:44 a.m. No barges break away.

Jan. 15 – The towing vessel Lucia collides with barges at a fleeting space at mile marker 95 on the Mississippi River close to the Crescent City Connection Bridge in New Orleans. Six barges break free and 20 gallons of oil enter the water. Coast Guard closes river for 3.5 miles for about 10 hours.

Jan. 19 – Coast Guard points a excessive water security advisory on Lower Mississippi River from mile marker 869, close to Caruthersville, Missouri, to mile marker 303 close to Natchez, Mississippi. A excessive water security advisory can also be in impact from mile marker 219 to mile marker 240 close to Baton Rouge, La. Carrollton Gauge in New Orleans at mile 102.8 signifies a Mississippi River Stage of 16.7 ft on the rise, simply barely beneath flood stage at 17 ft. Advisories, restrictions and closures space in place for a number of waterways impacted by the flooding.

Jan. 20 – The towing vessel Wally Roller hits the Vicksburg Railroad Bridge, inflicting all six barges to interrupt free.

Jan. 20 – Twenty-two barges loaded with loaded with coal and petroleum coke breakaway at mile marker 54 on the Mississippi River, close to West Point a la Hache, closing the river between mile markers 51 to 54. The breakaway barges hit three deep-draft vessls, the Q Jake, Serena P and Ocean Tomo, inflicting injury to all three vessels. One of the vessels releases soy beans into the river.

Jan. 21 – The Amy Francis pushing six barges allides with the Natchez-Vidalia Bridge at mile marker 363 close to Natchez, Mississippi. One barge containing slurry oil is broken and an unknown quantity spills into the river.

Jan. 21 – The towing vessel Thomas Kay pushing 19 barges allides with the Vicksburg Railroad Bridge. One barge containing ethanol is broken.

Jan. 21 – The Captain of the Port points a waterway restriction from mile marker 363 close to Natchez, MS north to mile marker 438 close to Vicksburg, MS limiting towboats pushing barges to not transit beneath the bridges.