Frigid Weather Makes for Slow Towboat Salvage

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Salvage operations for a sunken towboat on the Mississippi River at LeClaire have been slowed as workers cope with below-freezing temperatures expected to linger for days.

 

The Quad-City Times reports that workers had hoped to raise the bow of the sunken Stephen Colby by Friday, but were unable to do so. U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Jaclyn Young says workers are able to spend only two hours outside before they must be cycled through a warming tent.

Divers are only allowed only 30 minutes in the water.

A second salvage team arrived Saturday to help float the 144-foot towboat that sank November 25th off the LeClaire levee. The towboat stuck a submerged object. All nine crew members of the vessel made it to safety.

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