When the Mississippi River rises beyond flood stage at Vicksburg, navigating barge vessels around the sharp bend and through the piers of two bridges at the city becomes a difficult and dangerous task.

During the spring flood of 2008, four barges ran into the U.S. 80 bridge in 10 days, while other barges broke away from their tows because of swift currents. During each incident, Ergon Marine and Industrial Supply assisted in rounding up scattered barges and helping to ensure no one was injured during the emergencies.

For their efforts and support, employees of Ergon Marine were presented Wednesday by the U.S. Coast Guard an award for outstanding response and assistance during the 2008 flood — which produced the highest river stage in Vicksburg since 1973. 

“They provided a location for us to set up a Vicksburg river information center last year, and that was really the big thing we wanted to recognize them for,” said Lt. Teresa Hatfield, Coast Guard supervisor of the marine safety detachment in Vicksburg. “That really prevented us from having any major incidents during the flood.”

The Mississippi River at Vicksburg rose above flood stage of 43 feet on March 29, 2008, crested at 50.9 feet on April 19 and did not recede below flood stage until May 10. The river information center at Ergon Marine’s headquarters on Lee Street provided a staging area for vessels and up-to-the-minute river conditions to all pilots for nearly two months. During the flood, restrictions were put on vessels according to weight, number of barges in tow and travel times.  

“We hadn’t seen river conditions like that for 25 years, and it made for some very interesting and challenging situations every day,” said Ergon Marine Vice President Danny Koestler. “When the current is moving that fast, it’s very hazardous. It’s just mean — but we’ve got some very experienced and well-trained employees here who do an excellent job. I think it went pretty well once we set up the information center.” 

With 65 employees and a fleet of four tow boats, Ergon Marine is just one division of the multi-faceted Ergon Inc. — which has a refinery in Vicksburg and transports, produces, distributes and markets petroleum products. When they’re not assisting with river communications and emergencies, Ergon Marine assists barges going in and out of the Port of Vicksburg, sells parts and fuel and delivers groceries to passing vessels.

“What they’re awarding us for — rounding up barges and providing the information center — we don’t normally do those things every day,” said Koestler. “But when the time comes to do those things, we are happy to assist in whatever way we can.”

Ergon is not a valuable asset to local public safety agencies only during a flood or low-water event, said Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace. The company works with the sheriff’s office on a regular basis to assist deputies when there’s any emergency situation out on the river.

“Ergon is without question the best corporate partner that any community could possibly have,” said Pace. “I could tell you story after story about how Ergon saved the day or saved somebody’s life. They’re an incredible communications link, and they also respond to emergencies.”

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Contact Steve Sanoski at ssanoski@vicksburgpost.com.