| Marine Safety Office Chicago U.S. Coast Guard |
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| Press Release |
Date: January 25, 2005 Contact: Public Affairs |
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COAST GUARD REOPENS SANITARY AND SHIP CANAL CHICAGO, IL – The Coast Guard has successfully verified that dry cargo inland river barges may transit safely past the sunken EMC423 barge. As a result, the Coast Guard Captain of the Port has made the decision to open the section of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC) between the Cicero Avenue Bridge and the Chicago Belt Railway Railroad Bridge to commercial barge traffic. These vessels will be permitted to transit this section of the CSSC under operational and draft controls established by the Coast Guard. The Illinois River Carriers Association, in coordination with the Coast Guard and the on scene salvage supervisor, will implement a vessel traffic management system to ensure an organized and efficient return of commercial vessel traffic to the canal. The Coast Guard, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, and the Army Corps of Engineers will continue to closely oversee all salvage and recovery operations until the threat of pollution has been eliminated and the barge has been removed from the channel. ####
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