PORT ARTHUR, Texas - Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur, along with the aid of the Army Corps of Engineers, Sabine Pilots Association and a salvage team from Galveston-based T&T Marine Salvage Inc. successfully removed multiple obstructions from the Sabine-Neches channel in the vicinity of mile marker 279 at 10 p.m. Wednesday.

The towing vessel Kacie Luhr and two rock barges became partially submerged after the vessel began sinking Monday afternoon. The vessel was towing two additional rock barges, but they were undamaged and disconnected from the tow line.

The channel was re-opened after rock removal and underwater survey operations were completed, showing no remaining obstructions in the waterway. The Coast Guard safety zone for the area has been removed and the channel is open to all traffic.

Coast Guard oversees successful removal of rock barge obstruction