Mississippi River Flood 2011 Barges battling the current at Vicksburg 

Even the Tunica Mississippi casino's were shutdown during this time! I know, I worked at Horseshoe!

I was on the Sally Bromfield in 2011 with United Barge Line at the time.

Driven on em hard and look at the slide he got going on. River sure puts your skills to the test

1st boat: Sally Bromfield, 8,400-9,000 hp. ; 2nd boat: Arlen B. Cenac, 3,400hp. . Both had smaller tows than normal and NO, the 2nd boat NEVER backed on it, he was "hooked-up" making no less than 13 mph. the entire time, possibly 17 mph. with straight rudder. As for barge restriction and HP. per barge, that is for southbound tows only and the 3mph. rule is for upbound tows. If you cannot maintain 3, then you are subject to being manipulated by the current thus causing a hazard. In high water m

I rode the Ron W. Callegan through that flood. 2011 flood was bad to the bone, we were cut back to 25 loads southbound on an 11000 hp boat and had some wild rides through bridges...

A friend and I flew over to the Old River Structure in that flood to see if the river was going to find its way to Houma again.

I ran a tour boat on the Mississippi at Vicksburg. (The Sweet Olive). We ran for twelve years. The 2011 flood shut us down.😞

Some great piloting skills on display here.

doesnt look like he is fiting current to much looks like he is running with the current

11 years ago? Thanks alot you tube.

The USCG marine broadcasts still advise that a towing vessels needs to have at least 300 hp per barge for a maximum of 25 barges if the boat is under 6500HP & to request an assist tug if they cannot maintain a speed of 3mph over ground when apporaching the bridges @ Greenville & Memphis. That river is "Cooling through dere" as a pilot I once decked for would have said.

excellent capt skills..

IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IT WOULD MORE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE BARGE GOING DOWNSTREAM THAN UPSTREAM. I THINK YOU WOULD HAVE TO 'OUTRUN' THE CURRENT TO HAVE ANY CONTROL.

Looks like Vicksburg. Not the first time those captains have flanked those bridges.

CRAZY highwater this year. I spent most of it between Baton Rouge and mi 184 LM.

First boat: M/V Sally Bromfield: 8,400-9,000hp.. Second boat was Arlen B. Cenac, 3,400 hp. and NO, he never backed, he was pushing full ahead making 13-17 mph. and never let up!! And as for horsepower per barge and tow-size restriction, that is for southbound tows only and the 3mph. rule is for northbound tows. If you can't maintain 3 mph. against the current(and many boats cannot), you are at risk of being manipulated by the current and at many spots at risk of stalling-out completely. Curr

The current is swift there.It set us hard towards the port pier when we went thru it. The hardest I've ever seen it.

wow , that current was strong , if looked like the second tug was losing it before he got to bridge , i don't envy your job in the floods .

And now people are whining about the river going dry???? Never happy.

It looks different in 2022.

I know the first boat was a 10-5 or what I call a 10-5 over...10,500 hp or more...and the other one probably has 2000-4000 hp, and had to back awhile before driving it.....

The Arlen B was almost to far out of shape that time, he had to race the mississippi piers to keep from hitting them. Came down way to low off of Flag pier!

You sure got to be in the groove and know how to drive for the pier --

that's the hairy point there on the Lower....you moving good thru there on high water...no room for error at all

I added some background music James Brown's Mind Power

W.A.B.look back tug watch pull engines wake fighting swing keep hitting bridge

I have seen them go full reverce then go full ahead to get it right in low water

WOW PRETTY FREAKY

Man makes you just wanna jump right in for a swim doesn't it

I live there

@warfl4g XFFFFFFD!

sheetup

cool

11 years later river dried up

The USCG marine broadcasts still advise that a towing vessels needs to have at least 300 hp per barge for a maximum of 25 barges if the boat is under 6500HP & to request an assist tug if they cannot maintain a speed of 3mph over ground when approaching the bridges @ Greenville & Memphis. That river is "Cooling through dere" as a pilot I once decked for would have said.