November 19, 2016
NEW ORLEANS — The Coast Guard has closed the Mississippi River from mile marker 771 to mile marker 750 approximately 20 miles north of Memphis, Tennessee, Saturday.
The vessel Cooperative Enterprise was towing 42 barges containing corn or soybeans when they broke away.
16 barges have been recovered, 26 barges are aground. The vessels Cheryl and Joe Ellis are helping to gather the remaining barges.
The river is closed to all vessel traffic until the barges have been secured.
The cause of the incident is under investigation.