10 barges break loose on Ohio River, 1 carrying 1,400 tons of methanol

Mar 29, 2023

Karah Rucker Reporter/Producer

By Karah Rucker (Reporter/Producer), Stacey Chamberlain (Editor)

10 barges broke loose from their tugboat in the Ohio River. Three of the barges became pinned against a dam in Louisville, Kentucky. One of them is carrying 1,400 tons of methanol.

Methanol can be extremely dangerous to humans if ingested and can result in death, according to federal health reports. Officials on scene say there is no evidence of a tank breach or any leaks from the loose barges.

The location of the incident is downriver from Louisville’s water intake so there is no impact on the city’s drinking water. The other seven barges not caught up in the dam have been recovered. Officials are working to safely remove the three remaining barges from the current.

The Coast Guard is investigating how the barges broke loose. The Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet said the tug boat hit a stationary structure at the entrance of a canal near the dam.

Tags: Kentucky, U.S. Coast Guard

KARAH RUCKER: 10 BARGES BROKE LOOSE FROM THEIR TUGBOAT IN THE OHIO RIVER – THREE OF THE BARGES BECAME PINNED AGAINST A DAM IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – ONE OF THEM CARRYING 14 HUNDRED TONS OF METHANOL.

METHANOL CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO HUMANS IF INGESTED AND CAN RESULT IN DEATH ACCORDING TO FEDERAL HEALTH REPORTS.

OFFICIALS ON SCENE SAY THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF A TANK BREACH OR ANY LEAKS FROM THE LOOSE BARGES.

THE LOCATION OF THE INCIDENT IS DOWNRIVER FROM LOUISVILLE’S WATER INTAKE SO THERE IS NO IMPACT ON THE CITY’S DRINKING WATER.

THE OTHER SEVEN BARGES NOT CAUGHT UP IN THE DAM HAVE BEEN RECOVERED – WHILE THREE REMAIN LODGED AS OFFICIALS WORK TO SAFELY REMOVE THEM IN THE CURRENT.

THE COAST GUARD IS INVESTIGATING HOW THE BARGES BROKE LOOSE – THE KENTUCKY ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT CABINET SAYS THE TUG BOAT HIT A STATIONARY STRUCTURE AT THE ENTRANCE OF A CANAL NEAR THE DAM.