GRAND RIVERS, Ky. (Sept. 8, 2026) — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District announced today that an assist boat is helping commercial tows safely navigate through Kentucky Lock following recent wall damage.
The lock, located at Tennessee River mile 22.4 in Grand Rivers, Kentucky, sustained damage Sept. 1 when a commercial tow carrying approximately 22,000 tons of crushed stone struck the floating guard wall.
Following the incident, USACE initially restricted traffic to upbound lockages only. With the addition of the helper vessel, traffic has resumed in both directions.
“Industry and USACE navigation staff developed an initiative to keep lockages active by allowing industry to hire an assist vessel, the Motor Vessel Emma Kate, and having the vessel assist every downbound tow into the lock chamber to prevent any contact with the lock wall,” said Caleb Skinner, supervisory navigation facility manager at the Nashville District’s Western Tennessee Area Office.
Engineers and maintenance personnel are assessing repair options and evaluating potential impacts to navigation traffic if a temporary closure is necessary to repair the floating guide wall. Kentucky Lock operators continue to lock recreational vessels between commercial lockages. However, if commercial queue wait times increase significantly, the Corps may implement scheduled lockage windows for recreational craft.
For more about this incident at Kentucky Lock as well as other navigation locks in the Tennessee River System, follow the Tennessee River Locks and Navigation Facebook page at www.facebook.com/tennesseeriverlocks/.
The public can obtain news, updates and information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District on the district’s website at https://www.lrd.usace.army.mil/About/Districts/Nashville-District/, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nashvillecorps and on X (formerly Twitter) at www.x.com/nashvillecorps. Follow us on LinkedIn for the latest Nashville District employment and contracting opportunities at https://www.linkedin.com/company/u-s-army-corps-of-engineers-nashville-district.
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