Mississippi River Towboat Stephen L. Colby Poses Potential Exxon Valdez Risk in LeClaire, Iowa

The Stephen L. Colby, a towboat carrying 1,100 gallons of oil and nearly 90,000 gallons of fuel foundered offshore near tiny LeClaire, Iowa about 4:30 p.m. on Monday, November 25, 2013. The 46-year-old vessel owned and operated by the Marquette Transportation Company is 154 feet long and 40 feet wide.

Twenty-four hours after the towboat struck something in the water, yellow crime scene tape kept spectators at bay and a larger tow, the Aaron Barrett, operated by the Ingram Barge Company, sat on the port side of the Colby, ready to render assistance. The ship, which ran aground near Cody Road and Davenport Street intersections south of LeClaire’s main business area, was ringed by floating booms placed in the water to catch any leaking contaminants. Brought in by the Bettendorf Fire Department, the first boom was absorbent; the second solid and designed to catch anything that the first shield might miss.

No one was injured in the grounding, which took place in water 25 to 30 feet deep. Emergency crews from the Coast Guard, LeClaire fire and police departments, Bettendorf Fire Department and Scott County Emergency Services department were on the scene until 9 p.m. Monday evening with emergency lights. They remained on the scene on Tuesday, Another towboat from the Marquette Company was on its way from Clinton to assist in operations, which involved divers closing the vents from which fuel was escaping. The large red-and-white vehicle apparently struck something in the water just south of LeClaire’s main street, Highway 67.

Local Razzleberries Gift Shop owner Mary Hand Chambers (227 N. Cody Road, Hwy 67) said, “There hasn’t been this much excitement in town since President Obama came to visit.”