Marine Safety Office Chicago U.S. Coast Guard

Marine Safety Office Chicago U.S. Coast Guard

Marine Safety Unit Chicago U.S. Coast Guard

Press Release

Date: 31 May 2006 Contact: Public Affairs (630) 986-2155

COAST GUARD MARINE SAFETY UNIT CHICAGO CHANGE OF COMMAND CHICAGO - A Change of Command ceremony for U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Chicago will be held at the Columbia Yacht Club this Friday at 10 a.m. During the Change of Command ceremony, Commander Paul Mehler III will assume the responsibilities of Commanding Officer of Marine Safety Unit Chicago from Commander David Fish. Commander Fish has served as the Commanding Officer of Marine Safety Unit Chicago since the unit was commissioned on July 29, 2005.  Marine Safety Unit Chicago is primarily responsible for enforcing marine safety, security, and environmental protection regulations of the Southern half of Lake Michigan and 177 miles of the Illinois River system. Commander Fish is a native of Willoughby Ohio and is married to the former Janet Cofield.  They have one daughter Amanda, and a 5-month-old granddaughter Gabriella. Commander Mehler last served as the U.S. Coast Guard Liaison to Operations and Policy at the Department of Homeland Security in Washington, DC.  In that capacity, Commander Mehler coordinated operations between component federal agencies including the U.S. Secret Service, Customs and Boarder Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Transportation Security Administration. A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Commander Mehler is married to the former Michelle Bowen, of Montgomery, Alabama.  They have one daughter, Taylor.  ###

Marine Safety Unit Chicago U.S. Coast Guard

Press Release

Date: August 22, 2005 Contact: Public Affairs (630) 986-2155

CHICAGO BRIDGE DEMOLITION CHICAGO, IL - A suspended conveyor bridge at mile marker 329.9 over the Calumet River will be demolished by explosion this morning at 0800 local.  The suspended conveyor bridge is approximately 26 feet wide, 400 feet in length, and has a vertical clearance of 130 feet.  It is located in an industrial area approximately 15 miles south of downtown Chicago on the old Acme Steel and Heckett Slag properties. The bridge removal has been contracted to a local demolition company, Chicago Explosive Services (CES).  CES has removed over 200 bridges throughout the Midwest and along the East Coast.  The project supervisor for this operation, Pat Carney, has over 26 years experience in the explosives industry. CES will remove the bridge by detonating strategically set charges that will break the bridge into seven large sections.  The bridge sections will be quickly recovered from the river and shore by prestaged equipment and personnel. The U.S. Coast Guard has been working closely with CES and the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) to ensure that this event will be safe and has minimal impact on commercial and recreational vessel traffic.  The river was closed this morning at 7:00 a.m. for 1000 feet on either side of the bridge.  After the river is surveyed and examined by the Coast Guard and ACOE to ensure it is clear of debris, the river will be reopened to vessel traffic.  The closure is expected to last no longer than 24 hours.

Marine Safety Office Chicago U.S. Coast Guard

Press Release

Date: June 21, 2005 Contact: Public Affairs (630) 986-2155

COAST GUARD FORMAL HEARING RECONVENED Burr Ridge, IL - At approximately 4:45 p.m. on January 19, 2005 a tank barge that was owned and operated by Egan Marine Corporation exploded and sank in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal just east of the Cicero Avenue Bridge.  One crewmember died as a result of the explosion.  At the direction of the Ninth District Commander, the Coast Guard convened a formal hearing to determine the cause of this casualty.  During the first half of the hearing, testimony was heard from the owner of Egan Marine Corporation, crewmembers of the motor vessel Lisa E, employees of Exxon Mobil Joliet, and members of the Coast Guard search and rescue team that responded to this incident.  The hearing was recessed after two weeks of testimony to give all parties in interest an opportunity to examine the tank barge after it had been salvaged.  Now that all the parties in interest have had the chance to inspect the barge, the Coast Guard will reconvene the hearing. The formal hearing will reconvene at 9 a.m. on June 27, 2005 at the Holiday Inn located in Willowbrook IL.  The hearing will run daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is expected to last for three weeks.  Media agencies desiring to participate in coverage of the proceedings must provide a written request at least two days in advance to the Coast Guard Investigating Officer, via the Marine Safety Office Chicago Public Affairs Officer, 215 West 83 Street Suite D, Burr Ridge, IL 60527.  The request must include a description of the type of coverage planned and whether pooling arrangements have been made (it is solely the media's responsibility to make arrangements for the pooling of audio, video and still photographic equipment).  When a pooling arrangement has been made, designated media representatives should be listed.  It should be noted that no additional lighting will be permitted and that all equipment must be in place prior to the commencement of the proceedings.   ###

Marine Safety Office Chicago U.S. Coast Guard

Press Release

Date: April 15, 2005 Contact: Public Affairs (630) 986-2155

COAST GUARD FORMAL HEARING RECESSED CHICAGO - The formal hearing to determine the cause of the explosion of the EMC423 tank barge has been recessed after two weeks of testimony.  To date, testimony has been heard from the owner of Egan Marine Corporation, crewmembers of the motor vessel Lisa E, employees of Exxon Mobile Joliet, and members of the Coast Guard search and rescue team that responded to this accident.  The hearing will reconvene after the barge has been raised and all interested parties have had an opportunity to examine it.  The barge is expected to be salvaged and available for inspection by interested parties within the next few weeks.  Details of the when the formal hearing will reconvene will be issued in a separate press release. Media agencies desiring to participate in coverage of the proceedings must provide a written request at least two days in advance to the Coast Guard Investigating Officer, via the Marine Safety Office Chicago Public Affairs Officer, 215 West 83 Street Suite D, Burr Ridge, IL 60527.  The request must include a description of the type of coverage planned and whether pooling arrangements have been made (it is solely the media's responsibility to make arrangements for the pooling of audio, video and still photographic equipment).  When a pooling arrangement has been made, designated media representatives should be listed.  It should be noted that no additional lighting will be permitted and that all equipment must be in place prior to the commencement of the proceedings.   ###

Marine Safety Office Chicago U.S. Coast Guard

Press Release

Date: April 12, 2005 Contact: Public Affairs (630) 986-2155

COAST GUARD FORMAL HEARING CONTINUES Chicago - The formal hearing to determine the cause of the explosion of the EMC423 tank barge continues this week at the William Tell Holiday Inn in Countryside, IL.  Last week, testimony was heard from the owner of Egan Marine Corporation, crewmembers of the motor vessel Lisa E, and members of the Coast Guard search and rescue team that responded to this accident.  When scheduled testimony is completed later this week, the formal hearing will recess until the barge has been raised.  After all the interested parties have had an opportunity to examine the barge, the formal hearing will reconvene.  Details of the second half of this hearing will be issued in a separate press release. Media agencies desiring to participate in coverage of the proceedings must provide a written request at least two days in advance to the Coast Guard Investigating Officer, via the Marine Safety Office Chicago Public Affairs Officer, 215 West 83 Street Suite D, Burr Ridge, IL 60544.  The request must include a description of the type of coverage planned and whether pooling arrangements have been made (it is solely the media's responsibility to make arrangements for the pooling of audio, video and still photographic equipment).  When a pooling arrangement has been made, designated media representatives should be listed.  It should be noted that no additional lighting will be permitted and that all equipment must be in place prior to the commencement of the proceedings.  ###

Marine Safety Office Chicago U.S. Coast Guard

Press Release

Date: March 25, 2005 Contact: Public Affairs (630) 986-2155

FORMAL HEARING INTO EMC423 BARGE EXPLOSION Chicago - At approximately 4:45 p.m. on January 19, 2005 a tank barge that was owned and operated by Egan Marine Corporation exploded and sank in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal just east of the Cicero Avenue Bridge.  One crewmember died as a result of the explosion.  Salvage operations are currently underway to remove the barge from the canal. At the direction of the Ninth District Commander, the Coast Guard will convene a formal hearing beginning at 10:00 a.m. on April 4, 2005 to determine the cause of this casualty.  The Coast Guard hearing will be open to the public and will be held at the William Tell Holiday Inn in Countryside, IL. Media agencies desiring to participate in coverage of the proceedings must provide a written request at least two days in advance to the Coast Guard Investigating Officer, via the Marine Safety Office Chicago Public Affairs Officer, 215 West 83 Street Suite D, Burr Ridge, IL 60544.  The request must include a description of the type of coverage planned and whether pooling arrangements have been made (it is solely the media's responsibility to make arrangements for the pooling of audio, video and still photographic equipment).  When a pooling arrangement has been made, designated media representatives should be listed.  It should be noted that no additional lighting will be permitted and that all equipment must be in place prior to the commencement of the proceedings. ###

Marine Safety Office Chicago U.S. Coast Guard

Press Release

Date: January 26, 2005 Contact: Public Affairs (630) 986-2155

COMMERCIAL VESSEL TRAFFIC RETURNS TO SANITARY AND SHIP CANAL PAST SUNKEN OIL BARGE CHICAGO, IL – The Coast Guard Captain of the Port has opened 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.  Vessels are permitted to transit this section of the CSSC under the following restrictions: 1.  Routine vessel traffic will be allowed to transit this area between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. 2.  Tow size past the sunken barge is limited to a single, loaded 35 foot wide dry cargo barge, or two end-to-end 35 foot wide empty dry cargo barges. 3.  Vessel drafts may not exceed nine feet. 4.  All tows require a bow assist boat. 5.  All traffic wishing to transit the area must contact the motor vessel David E on channel 19 prior to reaching the Cicero or Belt Railway Bridge for further instruction. 6.  This section remains closed to noncommercial vessel traffic.   Seventeen barges safely transited past the sunken barge overnight and into this morning.   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.   ###

Marine Safety Office Chicago U.S. Coast Guard

Press Release

Date: January 25, 2005 Contact: Public Affairs (630) 986-2155

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.     ####