Mississippi River Reopened After Towboat Sinks

The Coast Guard has reopened the Mississippi River near St. Louis, Missouri after the towing vessel Jim Marko sank earlier Tuesday. 

Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River received a report that the towing vessel Jim Marko sank near the Stan Musial Memorial Bridge. The vessel sank with a reported 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel aboard.  Pollution responders and marine investigators from Sector Upper Mississippi River responded in coordination with the St. Louis Fire Department, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers and St. Louis Metro Air Support Unit.

Due to high water and rapid currents in the port of St. Louis, salvage of the vessel will be delayed until river conditions are safe to do so.  The Coast Guard is working with the federal, state and local agencies to monitor the situation.  A pollution response team is on standby.

The Jim Marko is a 70 foot, 140 ton towboat owned by Mike’s Marine and operated by Osage Marine, Inc.

The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the incident.

There were no injuries reported.