Read Authentic Ratings for the William-Neckel

On the night of October 27, 2021, the U.S. Coast Guard's Louisville Operations Center received reports of a barge collision involving the 'William Neckel' at the Eggners Ferry Bridge, located on the U.S. 68 in Marshall County, specifically at mile point 28.146 near Aurora. The incident occurred at approximately 11:30 p.m. as the vessel was traveling upstream under challenging windy conditions, which led to a tow of six empty barges colliding with the left descending main pier of the bridge. As a consequence, a wire that secured some of the barges snapped, although the crew was able to quickly replace it. Fortunately, the incident did not result in any significant damage to the barges, with the vessel's pilot reporting that the tow only made contact with the bridge pier. Following protocol, the Coast Guard notified the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, which arranged for a certified bridge inspector to assess the structure's integrity. The inspector later confirmed that the bridge's pier sustained no damage from the incident.