LAPLACE -- Ship traffic on the Mississippi River is one-way for a three-mile stretch near LaPlace because of an accident that occurred earlier today.

The Coast Guard says the Greek-flagged freighter "Pacific Eagle" ran aground about 10:30 a.m., and its propeller wash broke several barges loose from their moorings about 40 feet away.

Petty Officer Tom Atkeson says nobody was hurt, nothing was damaged, and the accident did not cause any pollution. He says the cause is under investigation. And because the barges were rounded up quickly and nothing was damaged, he doesn't have a report about how many broke free.

Atkeson says tugs are working to move the Pacific Eagle. While they're doing that, the traffic will remain one-way.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)