CADIZ, Ky. (AP) - A riverboat stuck in Lake Barkley in Kentucky for more than a week was freed Friday, the U.S. Coast Guard said.
The American Jazz, with 120 passengers and 54 crew members, became stuck on a sandbar last week while on a seven-night cruise between Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee, according to its operator, American Cruise Lines.
The passengers were moved off the ship and transported to a Nashville hotel on July 9. The boat was not damaged.
The boat was left in full reverse for about three hours Friday while a towing vessel pushed on it, and after taking a break, the boat worked itself free around 3:20 p.m., said Lt. Phillip Baxter of the Coast Guard in Paducah.
A similar operation was attempted a day or so ago but didn't work, Baxter said. But since then, the river level was higher, and the boat was carrying less fuel, so the conditions were more favorable, he said.
The American Jazz's hull was being inspected to make sure there was no damage or water going in before sending it on its way, Baxter said.