GROUNDED TOWBOAT LEAKED LESS THAN 50 GALLONS FOR FUEL

The towboat that ran aground Tuesday afternoon on the Mississippi River about one mile south of Cape Girardeau leaked less than 50 gallons of diesel into the river, according the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Sharon Wildman ran around on a dike at 4:45 p.m. while towing 16 barges southbound.

The Coast Guard Marine Safety Office in Paducah oversaw the cleanup and salvage. The vessel's fuel tanks contained about 73,000 gallons of fuel.

The Coast Guard, Northstar Navigation and four other towboats refloated the Sharon Wildman to keep damage to a minimum. The tow is now awaiting repairs at Missouri Dry Dock.

The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the grounding.