Mississippi River Collision Sends Barges Adrift—One Sinks 75 Feet Below

A nighttime collision between two cargo vessels on the Lower Mississippi River sent six barges careening into the waterway, with one sinking to the riverbed and others tangling in anchor lines before salvage crews could intervene. The incident, which occurred near mile marker 110, forced a temporary shutdown of the busy shipping lane before traffic resumed under restrictions the following afternoon.

Chaos on the Water

At 9:20 p.m. Sunday, the Panamanian-flagged Isla De Bioko collided with the U.S. vessel Ginny Stone, triggering a chain reaction. Six barges broke free—one loaded with urea, a common fertilizer component, plunged to the river bottom, while four were corralled by assist tugs. The remaining two drifted into the anchor lines of the MV Red Fin and MV Bulker Bee 30, lodging themselves in place.

“The sunken barge was located about 75 feet below the water line,” confirmed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, highlighting the challenges of recovery in deep, fast-moving currents.

Salvage and Restrictions

By 3:00 p.m. Monday, the river reopened with restrictions after crews freed the two stranded barges. High water levels, a persistent issue along the Mississippi this season, complicated recovery efforts. The Coast Guard is coordinating with the responsible party—still unnamed—to finalize salvage plans for the sunken barge.

Despite the scale of the incident, officials reported no injuries, wildlife impacts, or shoreline damage. The urea cargo, while potentially hazardous in large quantities, appears contained for now. Still, the collision underscores the risks of heavy maritime traffic in constrained river conditions.

Navigating a Crowded Artery

The Mississippi remains a critical artery for U.S. commerce, with barges transporting everything from grain to chemicals. Incidents like this—though resolved without catastrophe—serve as reminders of the delicate balance between efficiency and safety, especially as climate-driven weather extremes alter river dynamics.

For now, traffic flows again. But beneath the surface, 75 feet down, one barge waits—a silent testament to the river’s unpredictable power.