Several barges loose on the Ohio River

Nov 05, 2023

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The McAlpine Locks and Dam are closed because of what the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is calling a “navigation accident.”

Three barges are pinned against the lower portion of the dam, with one barge pinned against the Louisville and Indiana bridge pier. All of the other barges were recovered.

In an update from Louisville Emergency Services, officials say all barges have been accounted for. They also say there is "zero evidence" of tank breach or leaks, and that water monitoring resources are in place.

The cargoes carried aboard the barges are soy, corn, and one vessel with three independent cargo holds containing approximately 1,400 metric tons of Methanol, officials said.

The Corps says the accident happened at 2 a.m. Tuesday, March 28. No one was hurt, and all personnel were accounted for.

Emergency Response Team (ERT) at a barge incident on the Ohio River in Lville. 10 of 11 barges are loose from the tug. One carrying 1400 tons of methanol partially submerged at McAlpine Dam. Nearest water intake is in Henderson. @USCG @kyfishwildlife @ORSANCOchannel pic.twitter.com/qyWJZkTYGg

In a Twitter post from the EEC, a picture shows several of the barges stuck at the McAlpine Dam near the Portland neighborhood.

Jessica Wethington with Louisville Metro Emergency Services said the emergency management agency is planning and coordinating with the private barge companies, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers, LG&E, MSD (Metropolitan Sewer District), Louisville Water and the health department. She added the barge companies are “marshalling significant resources in response to the incident and will assess the situation and determine next steps.”

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Coast Guard are working with navigation industry and marine surveyors to begin recovery efforts of the remaining barges. The locks will remain closed until they stabilize the barges on the dam.

Louisville Fire has deployed hazardous materials (hazmat) monitoring and Louisville Metro Police and Louisville Fire are surveying the area until the private company arrives on scene.

Methanol, or methyl alcohol, is a colorless liquid with a strong odor. The Environmental Protection Agency says it primarily used as an industrial solvent for inks, resins, adhesives and dyes. Methanol is also used as an antifreeze in radiators, an ingredient of gasoline, and as fuel for picnic stoves.

Ingestion of methanol can cause a range of adverse effects, including headaches, amnesia and seizures, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is a poisonous substance that can be absorbed through the eyes, skin, lungs, and digestive system.

Kathleen Speicher, with the Louisville Water Company, confirms to Spectrum News 1, there is no concern over water quality in the company’s service area. The McAlpine locks and dam are below all Louisville Water intakes. As mentioned in the social media post from the EEC, the nearest water intake system is Henderson, Kentucky.

Josh Thompson, Treatment Superintendent at Henderson Water Utility, said they are monitoring the situation and gathering information about any substances leaking from any of the barges. Thompson added they are working closely with the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO). According to Thompson, there are several hundred river miles between Louisville and Henderson, and right now the river level is high. Thompson said this will help dilute whatever leaks in to the Ohio River. Henderson Water says it will continue to monitor the situation and determine what steps it will need to take.

The incident comes just weeks after the catastrophic trail derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, leaking chemicals into the waters of the Ohio River, causing many Kentucky residents to be concerned about water safety.