‘Superficial’ Damage Reported At Olmsted
An initial inspection at Olmsted Locks and Dam found only cosmetic, superficial damage to tainter gate 1 after two Corps of Engineers vessels were swept through it July 1.
“The gate is functional and not impacting project operability,” Louisville Engineer District chief of public affairs Katelyn Newton said.
The investigation into what caused the the mv. Jackie Lee Anderson to lose power during what was described as routine fleeting operations is still ongoing, Newton said. The 2,000 hp. Z-drive vessel, delivered as a newbuild in 2023, is typically used to maneuver the wicket lifters, which raise and lower the wickets that form a dam during periods of low water.
When the Jackie Lee Anderson lost power, the much smaller mv. 775 workboat was able to push it against the river wall long enough for the crew to evacuate, but the current continued to push both vessels downstream, Newton said. Both were overcome by the current and swept through the tainter gate.
No one was injured, although emergency responders said crewmembers were rescued from the water.
The Jackie Lee Anderson remained listing on the Illinois bank of the river, and the 775 was capsized below the dam.
Changing river conditions required the wicket dam at the facility, located at Ohio River Mile 964.4, to be lowered on July 3 and raised again on July 6. Wicket dam operations have been completed with vessel support from the on-site maintenance contractor, Newton said. The Corps has chartered the mv. Kieffer E. Bailey, owned by Marquette Transportation Company, to assist with future dam operations, she said.
According to vessel tracking data, the Kieffer E. Bailey arrived at Olmsted the evening of July 8. This isn’t the first time the Louisville Engineer District has chartered a vessel from Marquette for wicket lifter operations. A Marquette vessel worked under a similar contract with the Louisville District in the five years before the delivery of the Jackie Lee Anderson.
River conditions look to be giving dam operators a temporary reprieve.
“Based on current river forecast, we do not anticipate additional dam movements over the next few weeks,” Newton said.
