Lower Mississippi River Reopens After Accident

The lower Mississippi River was partially reopened to heavy ships after salvage crews moved a sunken vessel that had been blocking the river’s only deep opening into the Gulf of Mexico.

Traffic was restricted to one direction at a time and the Coast Guard kept ships moving through the channel at least two miles apart, Coast Guard Capt. Ron Branch said. There were 69 ships waiting in the Gulf of Mexico to head upriver, and 47 vessels on the river waiting to head into the gulf.

The 178-foot supply boat Lee III sank in the river’s main shipping channel Saturday after colliding with a container ship. Weather and water conditions delayed attempts to move the sunken boat.