Marseilles Dam Repairs

Marseilles Dam repairs require drawdown of navigation pool.

MARSEILLES, Ill. — In order to facilitate further repair work at Marseilles Dam, the Unified Command has announced plans for a 4-foot drawdown of the Marseilles navigation pool to be executed Friday.

The Marseilles Dam was damaged during an incident April 18 when seven barges broke loose from a tow during historic flooding on the Illinois River.

Four of the seven barges have been removed through salvage operations, but those operations have been suspended as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers works to repair the dam and construct a rock dike just below the dam. This dike will help reduce river flows and facilitate repairs to the dam. The dike may also assist the Corps in maintaining the navigational pool upstream of the Marseilles Lock and Dam.

The required drawdown is being implemented by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard and the barge industry. Mike Cox, Chief of Operations Division for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, said the reason for the drawdown is to reduce river flows at the dam.


"Lowering the water levels will reduce the volume of water flowing through the broken gates," he said. "This reduction will result in less erosive forces placed on the rock dike and facilitate safe completion of the dike."

According to Cox, the decision to draw down the pool was extensively evaluated and was one of many alternatives considered to reduce flows.

"Our engineers and the Unified Command are looking at alternatives to the drawdown to reduce flow to include placement of 3,000-pound sand bags above the dam," Cox said. "At this time it appears the drawdown will be necessary to facilitate completion of the rock dike."

Navigation notices have been coordinated and broadcasted to mariners who may be affected by the drawdown.

The Unified Command also announced that lockages for recreational vessels have begun and will take place each afternoon while navigation conditions allow. Vessels needing to transit southbound through the Marseilles Locks can do so at 3:30 p.m. Recreational vessels needing to transit northbound through the Marseilles Locks will be able to do so at 4:15 p.m. All vessels transiting in the vicinity of the Marseilles Lock canal should proceed with extreme caution due to hazards associated with channel obstructions, ongoing dike construction operations, heavy commercial vessel traffic, and floating debris leftover from flood waters. Boaters can contact the 24-hour Coast Guard Marseilles Lock Watch at 630-336-0300 if they have any questions or concerns regarding transiting in the vicinity of the Marseilles Lock and Dam.

Salvage Operators Near Marseilles Dam

A crane known as the HERCULES unloads cargo from one of the submerged barges near the Marseilles Dam in Marseilles, Ill., April 24, 2013. Salvage operations continued to remove the remaining barges. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class John Schleicher.

Salvage operators remove three more barges near Marseilles Dam

MARSEILLES, Ill –Salvage operations continued Thursday near the Marseille’s Dam with three more barges being removed.

A second submerged barge was removed Thursday after its remaining cargo of rolled coils was removed by a large crane known as the HERCULES that the Army Corps of Engineers brought in Wednesday.

Later in the afternoon, two more barges were removed, leaving only three submerged barges near the Dam. Lightering of the remaining three barges will begin this weekend.

"We had a very successful day in terms of removing three more barges from the Marseilles Dam, but most importantly, this has enabled more functional operations at the dam to slow the loss of water in the navagational pool," said Scott Noble, senior vice president, Ingram Barge Company.

As a result of the three additional barges being removed Thursday, two additional gates are operational. This will result in more water retention, keeping water levels at a normal depth for a longer period of time. The anticipated loss of the navigational pool may not occur now until the middle of next week.

A large crane known as the HERCULES offloads rolled coils from one of the submerged barges near the Marseilles Dam in Marseilles, Ill., April 25, 2013. The barge was one of three barges removed today during ongoing salvage operations. Coast Guard photo by Ens. Michelle Simmons.

On Wednesday, the Unified Command announced that due to damage to some of the gates of the dam, loss of the navigational pool between the Marseilles Lock and Dam and the Dresden Dam and Lock was imminent and could be lost by as early as this week.

Loss of the navigational pool means that the Army Corps of Engineers may not be able to sustain a channel depth of nine feet. It does not mean that a portion of the river will be lost completely.

“Today was a very encouraging day of progress,” said U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Matt Sibley, Incident Commander in charge of the Unified Command. “We are excited and remain committed to working toward the ultimate goal of reopening this part of the Illinois River as quickly as possible.” Capt. Sibley is also the commanding officer of Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan.

First Barge Removed From Near Marseilles Dam

MARSEILES, Ill – The first of seven barges resting near the Marseilles Dam was removed under supervision of the Unified Command Tuesday morning.

Salvage efforts on the barge, which is 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. Tugboat M/V Lloyd Murphy, owned by American Commercial Lines and operated by Inland Marine Service, assisted.

Ingram salvage crews are currently working to pump water from a barge in advance of removing some of its cargo of steel coils. These steps will allow the barge to be pulled away from the dam tomorrow.

"Ingram is working closely with the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to ensure that all salvage operations are handled in a safe and secure manner," said Scott Noble, senior V.P of ingram Barge Company.

"Today we made substantial progress in removing the first barge safely from the area and we began work on salvaging a second barge."

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 tomorrow.

Last Thursday evening, 14 cargo barges were downbound on the Illinois River approaching the Marseilles Lock canal when heavy currents broke away seven loaded barges and diverted them to the Dam.

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.

"Today's events and the commencement of salvage operations is encouraging," said Capt. Matthew Sibley, commanding officer of Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan.

"However, this is a challenging process that may take time to complete safely."

A safety zone remains in effect between the Marseilles Lock and Dam and the Dresden Lock and Dam.

For more information, contact the Joint Information Center at 216-389-0420

The Unified Command consists of representatives from Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan, the Army Corps of Engineers and Ingram Barge. 

 

Closer Inspection Of Marseilles Dam Reveals Damaged Gates

Closer inspection of Marseilles Dam reveals damaged gates

MARSEILLES, Ill. — A closer inspection Monday of the Marseilles Dam by Unified Command representatives confirmed that damage resulted from seven barges that broke loose from a tow and came to rest against the dam on Thursday.

The Unified Command consists of the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Ingram Barge Company.

On Sunday evening after water levels receded, the Army Corps of Engineers determined that gates two and three anchorage systems are broken and not operable. Gates four, five and six are not operable due to interference from floating barges. Gates one, seven and eight are operational and will be operated today in order to regulate the navigation pool levels.

Representatives of the Unified Command have stated that the damage to the gates will not pose additional flooding risk to downstream communities. However, as the water levels continue to recede, the decrease in water depth of the  the pool between Marseilles Lock and Dam and the Dresden Island Lock and Dam, which could in turn lead to decrease in navigation depth of the Illinois River and significantly impact its usage.

“We are working closely within the Unified Command and the maritime community to ensure the safety of personnel while we work to recover the maritime transportation system,” said Capt. Matt Sibley, commanding officer of Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan.

A salvage team from the Coast Guard's Atlantic Strike Team, along with representatives from Ingram Barge Company and other salvage contractors, are gathering this evening on site to evaluate the situation and formulate a salvage plan that may begin as early as tomorrow.

“Ingram is in the process of moving extensive salvage resources to the scene. Salvage equipment is already located in the pool and it is our hope to begin salvage operations with this local equipment as soon as river conditions safely permit us to do so,” said Scott Noble, senior vice president of Ingram Barge Company.

Earlier today, Maj. Gen. John Peabody and Col. Mark Deschenes of the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and Cmdr. Jason Neubauer of the U.S. Coast Guard, participated in an overflight assessment of the area. They also met with Marseilles Mayor Patti Smith and Police Chief James Hovious to brief them of the situation.

“The dam is considered critical infrastructure to the Illinois Waterway and our main priority is to safely restore its condition," said Mike Cox, chief of operations division for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District.

Four of the seven barges are sunk. There are no reports of pollution.

The UTV Dale A. Heller was downbound on the Illinois River, approaching the entrance to the Marseilles Lock canal Thursday, when strong river currents resulting from heavy rains redirected part of the tow toward the dam.

Marseilles Dam Is Structurally Sound After Seven Barges Broke Loose Near The Dam

MARSEILLES, Ill. — A Unified Command of U.S. Coast Guard and the Ingram Barge Company representatives announced Saturday that the Marseilles Dam is structurally sound after seven barges broke loose near the dam.

On Friday night the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, providing technical assistance to the Unified Command, completed an evaluation of the dam and determined it to be structurally sound.

The Main Street Bridge in Marseilles, located about 400 feet downstream of the dam, was reopened Saturday at 10:45 a.m. after flood waters began to recede and the access road to the bridge was cleared.

Salvage of the barges is delayed by the continuing high flood waters and heavy river currents.

“Once the river waters recede and a timeframe is established, we will notify the public and maritime interests of upcoming salvage operations,” said Cmdr. Jason Neubauer, Coast Guard Incident Commander for the Marseilles Barge Incident. “Safety of the personnel and timely reopening of the waterway will be our main priorities during salvage operations.”

Marine investigators from Marine Safety Unit Chicago continue to investigate the incident, which occurred Thursday night. The UTV Dale A. Heller was downbound on the Illinois River, approaching the entrance to the Marseilles Lock canal, when strong river currents redirected the tow toward the dam. No injuries or pollution have been reported and four of the seven cargo barges are partially submerged at the dam.

Original Story-MARSEILLES, Ill. — The Coast Guard is investigating a marine casualty that occurred Thursday evening on the Illinois River at the Marseilles Dam.

Marine investigators from Marine Safety Unit Chicago responded to a report that the motor vessel Dale A. Heller, a 128-foot towing vessel, lost control of its tow due to strong river currents from Thursday’s heavy rainfall. Seven of the Dale A. Heller's 14 barges subsequently broke free and came to rest against the Marseilles Dam.

No injuries or pollution have been reported, although minor damage has been reported to the Marseilles Dam and three cargo barges are partially submerged at the dam.

Currently there are no reports of breaches in the dam or surrounding levees as a result of the incident. Flood water is at a record high on the Illinois River and water is flowing over surrounding levees.

The Dale A. Heller was down bound on the Illinois River approaching the entrance to the Marseilles Lock canal when strong river currents pushed the tow toward the dam. The captain of the towing vessel did not report any damage to his vessel from the incident.

The Marseilles Police Department shut down the Main Street Bridge, located directly downstream of the Marseilles Dam, as a safety precaution in case the barges pass through the dam.

Marine Safety Unit Chicago Marine investigators are on scene conducting interviews and ensuring drug and alcohol tests are conducted on all involved personnel. A unified command is being established at the La Quinta Inn in Peru, Ill. to oversee salvage operations and ensure public safety in the vicinity of the dam. The Unified Command will be made up of members from the Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers, Marseilles Police Department, and the responsible party.