The sunken river barges and the Bunge grain elevator should be pulled from the Mississippi River and salvaged this week if weather and current river levels permit.

Karla Jenkins, owner of Vidalia Dock and Storage Company Inc., said Tuesday a company called Big River Shipbuilders from Vicksburg salvaged two of the barges in the last two days

Jenkins said the company’s owner J. O. Smith, will try to salvage the remaining barges and the grain elevator today or Thursday if the conditions are favorable.

“This is quite an undertaking, salvaging barges,” Jenkins said.

Last Thursday evening the Limestone Lady tugboat, pushing 25 barges downriver, collided with one of the Mississippi River Bridge’s supports causing minor damage.

The wreck dislodged five of the barges from the tugboat and two sunk.

Jenkins said Tuesday one of the barges from the Limestone Lady floated downstream and wrecked into the Bunge grain elevator conveyor system in Vidalia sending it into the river.

This wreck was the second in two days.

The City of Cleveland tugboat, pushing 18 barges, hit the same support at about 5:15 a.m. last Wednesday.

The southbound barges collided with the support on the Vidalia side of the older westbound bridge.

One of the barges dislodged and sunk about a mile downstream.

Jenkins said Smith lifts the sunken barges using two large cranes that float on barges.

“They are going to raise them by securing straps around the sunken barges, which is very dangerous,” she said. “You can’t see. There is just zero visibility down there ( in the Mississippi River).”

Jenkins said Smith will use her tugboats to carry the cranes and other equipment to the barge sites.

Besides the visibility, Jenkins said the current river stage makes salvaging a hazard.

“(The) river stage is right below flood stage and the current is very dangerous,” she said. “So they have a lot to contend with out there.”

Currently the river gauge at Natchez is 45.32 feet, according to United States Army Corp. of Engineers Website.

Flood stage for Natchez is 48 feet.

If Smith thinks the current is too strong, Jenkins said he would have to return to salvage the remaining barges once the river goes down.

Smith could not be reached for comment Tuesday.