Salt Barges on the Ohio

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- A barge loaded with fertilizer was jammed in a gate of the Ohio River McAlpine Dam and another vessel carrying salt sank after four barges broke loose from a disabled tow boat, the U.S. Coast Guard said Tuesday.

The barges broke out about 1 a.m., shortly after the tow boat Roberta Tabor had passed through the McAlpine lock on an upriver trip, said Coast Guard Petty Officer James Sybor.

There were no injuries to the barge crew.

One salt barge sank just north of the Sherman Minton Bridge,

which connects Louisville and New Albany, Ind.

Another salt barge and one loaded with ethanol were rounded up and secured, Sybor said.

The tow boat was disabled by mechanical failure, Sybor said.

The full tow consisted of 14 barges, including one that was

empty, said lock operator Lamar Copeland.

The Sherman Minton Bridge along Interstate 64 was shut down while officials examined it for damage, but none was found and the bridge reopened about 6 a.m., officials said.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

APTV-01-16-07 0908EST

I guess that means I'll be throwing a Gene Larew Salt Craw most of the year of the Ohio...

Pictures:

[url]http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=B2&Dato=20070116&Kategori=NEWS01&Lopenr=701160813&Ref=PH[/url]

I contacted fish and wildlife and they feel like these barges will not be too much of a risk currently to fish except those who are very close. The high fast moving and rolling water should dillute the salt to levels that are not toxic..
Is there a joke here about salted asphalt IN THE RIVER that I am missing here.. (Asphalt Barge that sank LAST year)
There was also some Urea in one of the barges from what I heard on TV... but again high, fast water SHOULD make it a non event.
Jim Dicken

But we already have a SALT RIVER...lol

I always hated to hear about a good snow northeast of the falls of the ohio..... my 2nd home.because I knew they would dump salt on the roads that would eventualy end up in the river.Gives my toothy critters of the winter lockjaw!!!NOW I have tons of it sitting in my fishin hole.Sure it will disopate eventualy in the high waters but the affects surely won't help the fishing or envirment.Hopefully take out some beaver but thats another story.This is the same water we drink right? One barge contained fertilizer urea? is that manure? enjoy your shower tomorrow mornin....This hurts...Like they say don't worry about the enviroment it will go away...Sorry to be so sad on just my 2nd post.

>One barge contained fertilizer urea? is that manure?

Close.

well the barge is still there..anybody know if the guys from pitt.doing this job???they arn't real nice.But they should be.... we're giving them lots a work...

Given it was the Ohio River, I'd just right this off as "CHUMMING".

How many pds. of fert. did they say were lost?Man that cut a hole threw my striper area.I know they say sometimes to fert. your new ponds . does anyone know if this might promote the growth of plankton or is this just bad???lookin for a rainbow...