Four barges ran aground and sunk on the Ohio River just below the Pike Island Locks near Wheeling, West Virginia. Reports state the barges loaded with coal were being towed when they ran aground while waiting on another towboat to pass. Authorities state the barges are outside the navigation channel and has not impacted traffic. The owner has begun efforts to refloat the barges. No reports of injuries.
On January 10, the 123 foot long towboat Gate City sank on the Big Sandy River near Butler, West Virginia. The towboat had sunk at its moorings releasing some 1300 gallons of oil into the river. Authorities were alerted and dispatched a team to the scene. Booms were placed around the Gate City to contain the pollution. Some 800 gallons of oil was recovered from the river. Local water service was halted for several days due to the pollution.
Reports state a salvage team pumped the remaining oil off the towboat before the Gate City was refloated. No reports of injuries. The Coast Guard has launched an investigation into the incident.
The floating restaurant-barge Schooner’s suffered water ingress at it’s berth on the Ohio River in Guyandotte, Huntington, West Virginia. A maintenance worker alerted that the barge had suffered a leak and was partially flooded. Cables were ran to hold the barge in place while pump trucks arrived to help pump water from the hull. The cause of the leak was not yet known.
