Skip to Content

Wisconsin-based oil company towing vessel sinks in Kinnikinnick River

By Bryant McCray

Click here for updates on this story

    MILWAUKEE (WDJT) — An Appleton-based oil company is trying to bail out their towing vessel after it sunk in the Kinnikinnick River.

U.S. Venture Inc. is the owner of the 112-foot towing vessel. The vessel was docked and empty at the time it began to sink.

The vessel began to take on water just after 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 2.

Authorities were alerted of the issue with dozens of agencies responding to evaluate the situation.

“We are here to make sure that it is done safely and that’s it done correctly,” said Ltd. Phillip Gurtler, public affairs officers with the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard said the company is cooperating with their mission to remove the vessel.

“They are contacting the people that they need to, and they are moving forward with a plan, anytime there is an incident like that that’s what we want to see, and we are very happy that they are working with us,” said Gurtler.

However, with tons of oil and fuel onboard threatening the Kinnikinnick River, precautions were taken; crews deployed 100 feet of hard boom with absorbent material as a preventative measure.

“We want to make sure that the pollutants, in this case diesel fuel is contained and eventually removed from the vessel,” said Gurtler.

What caused the towing vessel to take on the water is still under investigation.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Article Topic Follows: CNN - Regional

Jump to comments ↓

CNN Newsource

BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION

KYMA KECY is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation.

Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here

If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here.

Skip to content