The Tom Soya Grain Company is considering how to remove three of its barges that are stuck in the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway.
Perry Lucas, the company’s vice president, told The Dispatch there is no timeline for when the barges will be ready to remove or when a plan will be in place to remove them.
“The surveyors are developing their plan right now,” Lucas said. “I just don’t know what it is. That’s what they’re busy doing now. It’s important that I leave them alone because they’re professionals. I’m counting on them.
“This has never happened to us before, so I really don’t have any idea,” Lucas said.
The barges broke loose Saturday morning from Raymond D. Lucas Memorial Port in Clay County because of last week’s heavy rains.
Two of the barges are stuck at the John C. Stennis Lock & Dam in Columbus. One, loaded with soybeans, sank Monday. The other barge, which is loaded with salt, is resting on it. The third barge is stuck in the waterway upriver from the Lock & Dam.
Tenn-Tom Waterway operations manager Rick Saucer previously told The Dispatch that waters from the weekend’s heavy rains will have to recede before the barges can be removed.
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 47 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
