More details have emerged, following the sinking of a barge this weekend that led to the closure of Kentucky Lock at Kentucky Dam.
At this point, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District is working in congruence with Terral River Service to clear a barge from the lock’s chamber. The barge sank around 7:30 AM, this past Saturday.
Lockmaster Caleb Skinner said the owner of the barge, Terral River Service, is planning to re-float the vessel Tuesday.
In a written statement, Skinner explained that the barge was carrying gravel when it hung on the miter sill of the lock. This caused the bow to tip and take on water, and led to its sinking.
Skinner further noted that in order to recover the barge, owners will pump water out — with hopes of completing the operation by Tuesday’s end.
According to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials, there were two deckhands working during the incident, and neither were hurt when the barge sank.
Impact from this closure to the navigation and recreation industry has been minimized, due to a series of scheduled intermittent closures, where were planned from 6 AM to 6 PM and from June 13 through June 30, in order to complete the painting of upstream miter gates and to repair armor plating on the upstream guard wall.
With Kentucky Lock still closed until further notice, vessels may use Barkley Canal to travel between the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers, and Barkley Lock to navigate to and from the lower Ohio River.
