Sunken Barge Salvage Restricts Chicago River Traffic

Offloading operations continue on the sunken barge in the Chicago River between the Lake and Randolph Street bridges.

The salvage company is maintaining a 50-foot channel to allow for vessels to transit through the area single-file.

The Coast Guard may further restrict movement on the waterway to facilitate critical salvage operations.

Personnel from Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Chicago have coordinated waterways management controls over the Chicago River after the barge broke free from its mooring Friday afternoon and sank in the river between the Lake and Randolph Street Bridges.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan, in Milwaukee, learned of the incident at about 1:15 p.m., Friday. The barge was loaded with 750 yards of clay dirt. No injuries or pollution are reported.

Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan is broadcasting a broadcast notice to mariners over VHF-FM channel 16.