Attempts to Move Grounded Ship Unsuccessful

Two attempts to free the U.S.S. LST 325 from shallow water yesterday afternoon were unsuccessful. The World War II transport ship is stuck in Lake Barkley near Kuttawa. U. S. Coast Guard Spokesman Lieutenant Dan McQuate says a salvage expert directed a commercial tugboat to try to pull the ship out, but it remained stuck. The LST crew also attempted to back up under the ship’s own power.

McQuate says the LST moved 30 feet and stopped. He says the crew will continue to work on the salvage plan. The ship ran aground Monday night after it left the navigation channel for unknown reasons. The ship landed troops on the beaches of Normandy during World War II, and is a now a tourist attraction based in Evansville, Indiana.