In the US state of Kentucky, a number of locks on the Ohio River had to be closed due to a “shipping-related incident”. The reason for this is that parts of a freighter network have come loose – authorities said 1,400 tons of the toxic alcohol compound methanol was on board.
The incident happened around 2 a.m. local time on Tuesday, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Of the 11 barges, 10 became detached from a tug; three ships were stuck on the dam – another boat was stuck on a pillar, the authority said.
Methanol ship partially submerged
A statement said the locks on the dam will remain closed until barges on the dam stabilize.” In a tweet, the Kentucky Department of Energy and Environment explained that the methanol-laden barge partially submerged at the McAlpine locks and – dam in Louisville, Kentucky The incident prompted the Louisville Fire Department to send a hazmat monitor to the dam, a Louisville Metro Emergency Services representative said.
“Barge operators are dedicating significant resources to respond to the incident and will assess the situation and determine next steps,” it said. “Meanwhile, the Louisville Fire Department has deployed surveillance. The area will be monitored until the private company arrives on scene.”
Probably no impact on water quality
According to the Kentucky Department of Energy and Environment, the closest water intake for the stricken Ohio River dam is in Henderson, Kentucky — more than 100 miles from Louisville. “There is no impact on water withdrawal or water quality from Louisville Water,” the utility wrote in a tweet. “Your water is safe to drink.”
No one was injured in the incident. According to the National Institutes of Health, a concentration of methanol vapor in an enclosed space can be explosive when ignited. Methanol is a toxic alcohol used industrially as a solvent, pesticide and alternative fuel. It’s unclear if the methanol will leak, but if it does, it should dilute quickly. However, it is to be expected that some fish will die.
Source: Krone
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