Final barge lodged against Ohio River dam has been removed, Louisville officials say

Barges against the dam just south of downtown Louisville on Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Barges against the dam just south of downtown Louisville on Tuesday, March 28, 2023

One month later, the last of three barges that had been lodged against a dam on the Ohio River in Louisville has been removed.

The final barge was removed Friday, according to a release from Louisville Metro Emergency Services, along with heavy salvage equipment that had been on site. The vessel was carrying corn and had been stranded against the McAlpine Dam since late March.

With its removal, the multi-agency response to the incident has concluded, though an investigation by the U.S. Coast Guard continues.

The three barges were lodged against the dam in western Louisville on March 28 after getting loose early that morning. No one was injured.

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One of the three barges was carrying 1,400 tons of methanol, which is dangerous to consume. No leaks were detected while it was stuck, city officials said, citing hundreds of air and water quality tests taken in that time, and it was removed on April 7.

"Louisville Water’s drinking water was never threatened by the event," the Friday release from emergency services said.

Reach Lucas Aulbach at laulbach@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville Ohio River barge incident ends with last vessel removed