NATCHEZ &045;&045; Barge versus bridge collisions like the three recent incidents in Vicksburg are not a major concern for the Mississippi River bridges in Natchez.

Lt. Todd Peterson, chief of port operations for the U.S. Coast Guard marine safety unit in Baton Rouge, La., said a nice stretch of straightaway helps southbound barges line up for a safe ride under the bridges.

The recent crashes and the river’s high level prompted the Coast Guard to change the rules Friday for southbound barges carrying hazardous materials near the Memphis, Vicksburg and Baton Rouge bridges.

The &uot;red flag&uot; tows, those carrying petroleum or other possibly hazardous materials, must carry 25 or less barges at a time, Peterson said.

Tows pushing wheat or other non-hazardous barges can carry 30 barges at a time, a number that hasn’t changed.

Wednesday, the third barge in eight days struck both Vicksburg bridges. The 10 barges cabled together scattered on the river and one, carrying grain, sank.

Last Thursday a 22-barge tow struck the bridges. One of the barges sank and two were beached. And last Tuesday, a tow hit the bridges, but no barges sank.

Peterson said the Vicksburg bridges were right past a bend in the river that made navigation tough. The high, fast waters make the situation worse, he said.

&uot;You don’t have a tricky, hairy bend (in Natchez),&uot; he said. &uot;They have plenty of time to line up and they don’t have to worry about cross currents.&uot;

The new restrictions will stay in place until further notice from the Coast Guard.