PADUCAH, Ky. - The Coast Guard was notified at approximately 1:25 a.m., Thursday that the M/V Cindy L Erickson, owned by Marquette Transportation Company Inc., reported striking and grounding on a dike wall at mile 6.2 on the Upper Mississippi River, near Cairo, Ill.

The incident occurred at approximately 12:45 a.m. while the towing vessel was pushing 20 empty non-regulated barges.

Following the grounding the 20 barges broke away from the tow boat, but were quickly rounded up with no reported damage and transported to Cairo, Ill.

As a result of the incident the M/V Cindy L Erickson received damage and remains aground on the dike wall. The damaged tow boat is not blocking the channel or affecting other vessel traffic.

Coast Guard responders and investigators, company officials, are on the scene to investigate the cause of the incident.

For additional information concerning the Coast Guard's response to this incident, refer to Lieutenant Wayne Chapman, at (270) 331-1157.

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