Mississippi River Reopened @ Vicksburg

A tug pushing 35 barges passes under the Vicksburg, Miss., bridges before making its way past oil removal operations near mile marker 436 on the Mississippi River, Jan. 31, 2013. More than 60 vessels and 900 barges had been cleared through the safety zone between mile marker 425 and mile marker 441. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan Lally.

The Mississippi River reopened yesterday afternoon as crews finished cleaning the leak that dumped 7,000 gallons of crude into the river, said U.S. Coast Guard spokesman Petty Office 1st Class Matthew Schofield.

"The oil is effectively recovered at this point," he said.

The shipment of light crude began leaking January 27 when the barge struck the bridge. The tanker was carrying 80,000 gallons of crude, part of 1.5 million gallons being carried on the two-barge tow.

The river was closed January 27 through Wednesday afternoon when it was opened to single-file traffic though a 16-mile stretch north and south of Vicksburg.

Response crews remove fuel from the damaged MOC-12 barge after reconfiguring oil-pump equipment near mile marker 436 near Vicksburg, Miss., Jan. 31, 2013. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan Lally.

One mile around the barges remained a "trouble area" yesterday afternoon, but conditions were not severe enough to cause traffic restrictions, Schofield said.

"The traffic's going under normal direction, but they are having to talk a lot and look out for each other," Schofield said.

"As far as I know, everything is good to go," he said.

Preparations were underway to remove the two barges, which remained pinned to the west bank of the river.

Response crews remove fuel from the damaged MOC-12 barge after reconfiguring oil-pump equipment near mile marker 436 near Vicksburg, Miss., Jan. 31, 2013. Skimming vessel crews had recovered approximately 8,400 gallons of oily-water mixture since the incident occurred. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan Lally.  Image courtesy of U.S. Coast Guard

"Temporary repairs are in the works for the barge that was leaking," Schofield said.

"As soon as it is fixed, we will get them shipped out."

The barges are owned by Third Coast Towing LLC of Corpus Christi, Texas, said Coast Guard Lt. Ryan Gomez.

Response crews remove fuel from the damaged MOC-12 barge after reconfiguring oil-pump equipment near mile marker 436 near Vicksburg, Miss., Jan. 31, 2013. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan Lally.

Both vessels were being pushed by the towboat Nature's Way Endeavor, which according to its websites, is based in Theodore, Alabama.  It identifies the towboat as a 3,000-horsepower, 90-foot-long boat.

The U. S. 80 bridge suffered no structural damage during the strike, said Vicksburg Bridge Commissioner Herman Smith.

Officials have said the cost of the cleanup has not been totaled, but it will be borne by the tow and barge companies.

By Josh Edwards jedwards@vicksburgpost.com