Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Barge capsizes near Astoria, Ore.















A Coast Guard 47-foot motor lifeboat from Station Cape Disappointment, Wash., is seen approaching a capsized barge eight miles west of the Columbia River bar near Astoria, Ore., Tuesday, April 13, 2010. The barge capsized while being towed by the tug Gen. Jackson and was carrying a load of scrap metal and approximately 500 gallons of diesel fuel. No injuries were reported. U.S. Coast Guard photos by Group/Air Station Astoria.




The crew of the 100-foot Canadian tug General Jackson contacted the Coast Guard to report their 295-foot barge had capsized at about 7:30 a.m. A Coast Guard MH-60 helicopter crew from Group/Air Station Astoria and a 47-foot motor lifeboat crew from Station Cape Disappointment in Ilwaco, Wash., were sent to the scene.

The barge was loaded with 4500 tons of scrap metal and contains approximately 500 gallons of diesel fuel. The scrap metal came free from the barge and fell to the bottom of the ocean. The capsizing occurred in approximately 300 feet of water and weather on scene was calm. The Coast Guard has contacted the vessel owner, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, and the Washington Department of Ecology. No injuries have been reported and a light sheen has been observed coming from the vessel.

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