Towing Vessel Sinks Near Baton Rouge

A section of the the lower Mississippi River has been closed to vessel traffic after a towing vessel sank near Baton Rouge, La., Thursday, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

The Coast Guard said its watchstanders in New Orleans received a report at 11 a.m. that the towing vessel Michelle Anne sank at Baton Rouge General Anchorage near mile marker 226 on the Mississippi River.

The four crewmembers aboard the Michelle Ann escaped and were rescued by a nearby tug. There were no reported injuries.

The waterway is closed from mile marker 224.5 to mile marker 226.

A Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Baton Rouge incident management team deployed to the scene to look for signs of pollution. The Army Corps of Engineers is deploying survey teams to locate the sunken tug.

The cause of the incident is under investigation.