DALE A HELLER

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Cargo of sunken barges is getting removed

Salvage operations led by the Unified Command continued on Apr 27 to remove the three remaining barges lost by the "Dale A. Heller" which were submerged near the Marseilles Dam. An additional crane arrived in the morning to offload cargo from one of the sunken barges. The removed cargo was placed into a receiver barge. When enough of the cargo has been removed to refloat the submerged barge, the process to safely remove the barge from the area was to begin. That process was expected to begin on Apr 28. Four of the seven barges were successfully removed earlier during the week. Meanwhile, as the Unified Command continued salvage operations in the wake of the barge incident at Marseilles Lock and Dam, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was monitoring the dam to ensure its public safety. Due to high river levels and interference by sunken barges, the most critical public safety damage assessment is scouring of the riverbed. Abnormal or accelerated scouring could undercut the dam’s foundation and result in a catastrophic failure. The Corps planned to assess the full scope of damages as soon as possible. In order to protect vessel traffic above the dam and ensure that salvage operations remain unimpeded, the Coast Guard has modified the Illinois River safety zone originally implemented due to high water conditions. The new zone prohibits all vessel traffic between the Marseilles Lock and Seneca that isn't specifically involved in salvage operations. A larger section of the Illinois River, between Lacon and the Brandon Road Lock at Joliet remains closed to recreational vessels due to high water and excessive river debris. Illinois River projections indicated that the 9-foot navigational pool level between the Marseilles and Dresden Dams will be maintained through May 7. The Unified Command consists of representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rock Island District, and Ingram Barge.

Dropping water levels delayed ship traffic while barge salvage continued

Salvage operations led by the Unified Command continued on the remaining six barges which broke off the "Dale A. Heller" and were floating or submerged near the Marseilles Dam on Apr 25. On Apr 23 three tug boats safely removed the first submerged barge from the water near the dam. Dewatering of the second submerged barge began on Apr 25. The Army Corps of Engineers prepared a large crane to offload the barge's cargo if needed to help refloat the barge. Members of the Unified Command flew over the site aboard a Coast Guard helicopter to obtain an aerial perspective of the incident site. Due to damage at Marseilles Dam, it now appeared water levels were dropping below minimum depth maintained for commercial traffic, and loss of the Marseilles Pool was imminent. This was to occur as early as this weekend and would affect vessel traffic on the river. If that happened, recovery operations might also be affected. It was estimated that this loss of pool could be an extended event, lasting perhaps weeks. The Unified Command was exploring all available options to minimize the duration and impact of such a loss of the pool. The U.S. Coast Guard was developing a river traffic plan in anticipation of the loss of pool between the Marseilles Dam and Dresden Lock. The Unified Command was placing a priority on clearing all vessel traffic out of the impacted section of river. At the request of the Unified Command, the LaSalle County Emergency Management Agency has closed the main entrance to Illini State Park for safety concerns and to allow for passage of response vehicles only.

First stranded barge removed, salvage of second underway

The first of seven barges lost by the "Dale A. Heller" and resting near the Marseilles Dam was removed under supervision of the Unified Command in the morning of Apr 23. Salvage efforts on the barge, which was loaded with iron ore fines, commenced at about 10:30 a.m. after the Unified Command approved the safety and salvage plan. Two tugs owned and contracted by Ingram Barge Company pulled the barge away from the dam during the complex operation. The tug "Lloyd Murphy", owned by American Commercial Lines and operated by Inland Marine Service, assisted. Ingram salvage crews were working to pump water from another barge in advance of removing some of its cargo of steel coils to get it pulled away from the dam on Apr 24. Representatives from the USACE will now examine the gates to the dam more closely to determine how extensive the damage is. Removal of additional barges will resume on Apr 24. There have been no reports of pollution. In addition, members of the Unified Command stressed that there is no threat to additional flooding in surrounding communities. A safety zone remained in effect between the Marseilles Lock and Dam and the Dresden Lock and Dam.