LELAND SPEAKS

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Tug on fire on Mississippi

The US Coast Guard responded to a fire on the "Leland Speaks" on the lower Mississippi River near Greenville, Mississippi, on Feb 21, 2018. Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River watchstanders received a report at 7:20 a.m. of the tug being adrift. Other tugs gained control of the vessel and pushed it aground at mile marker 509. The "Leland Speaks" had an estimated 80,000 gallons aboard and was pushing 21 dry barges. There were no reports of hazardous material aboard the barges. The Coast Guard issued a waterway restriction from mile marker 500 to mile marker 520 to limit vessel traffic in the area. There was a crew of eight aboard the "Leland Speaks" who were able to escape from the burning vessel onto other tugs in the area. There were no reports of injuries, pollution or impacts to the environment.