Crews are progressing in the cleanup after a tow boat was leaking fuel as it sank in the Mississippi River at LeClaire, Iowa on Monday, November 25, 2013.
On Sunday, December 1, 2013 the U.S. Coast Guard said they are testing their process to remove the fuel-leaking tow boat out of the river.
To test the process, crews had to make sure they had enough equipment to lift the boat, patch up the hole that caused it to sink, and remove any water still in the watercraft.
“Now we’re able to get in there and really start working with what we got,” said Sean Stone, Damage Controlman of the U.S. Coast Guard. “We can really eliminate the unknowns as far as damage goes and start pumping this thing out ahead of schedule.”
Crews said the removal process will start either Monday or Tuesday and could take several days to complete.