A unified command has been formed to work on a plan to determine how to get The American Jazz unstuck from a sandbar on Lake Barkley, just north of the U.S. 68 bridge in Trigg County.
During a tour of the command post at the Trigg County Rescue Center building Saturday, Lt. John Nolan with the U.S. Coast Guard in Paducah said a plan had not been established. The plan to free the cruise ship will have to come from American Cruise Lines, the ship’s owner, but must be approved by the Coast Guard to ensure lake and habitat safety and other measures.
The Lake Barkley Grounding Unified Command includes members of the Coast Guard, Trigg County Emergency Management, and representatives from Kentucky and American Cruise Lines, who will remain in Trigg County until the ship is removed.
Lt. Nolan told the News Edge while the ship remains in Lake Barkley, a three-mile safety zone has been set up between the 61 and 64 mile-marker on the lake.
Lt. Nolan added boats could learn more information by listening to their radios.
All 120 passengers and six non-essential crew members were able to leave the ship Friday evening and safely arrived in Nashville, their original final destination a day early.
48 essential crew members remain on the ship for day-to-day operations while it’s stuck near Heron Point.
