45 drifted barges on the Mississippi rounded up

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The U.S. Coast Guard enlisted the help of towboats on the Mississippi River to round up 45 loaded barges that broke loose from their moorings early Thursday a mile south of the Gateway Arch.

The barges broke loose about 3:45 a.m., when a large towboat tried to land near the barges that were parked on the river. The barges had been tied to each other at the parking area, and broke loose when the towboat's impact strained the deck fittings.

The barges drifted a half-mile down the river, Osage Marine Services owner Jim Patterson said.

The Coast Guard put out a radio broadcast alerting mariners on the river and asking for towboats to help corral the barges. About 12 assisted, said Lt. Dan Satterfield, chief of investigations.

Nothing sunk, and the barges were put back together by 5:41 a.m.

A towboat and an Army Corps of Engineers barge, but no bridges, were damaged. No oil or hazardous material spill was reported, Satterfield said.

The Coast Guard is still investigating the incident.