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Coast Guard responds to barge grounding
By SUZETTE PORTER
| Article published on Thursday, April 3, 2008 |
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![[Image]](/content_images/040308_fpg-01.jpg) |
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| Photo courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard |
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| Swirls of color in the sea can be seen where the sand is being disturbed by attempts to re-float a barge that ran aground near Egmont Key on April 2 . |
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ST. PETERSBURG – The U.S. Coast Guard is planning another attempt at high tide, around 10 p.m. Thursday, to move a barge that is stuck on a sandbar near Egmont Key.
According to a report from the Coast Guard, the 138-foot tug Yankee, owned by K-Sea Operating Partnership LP, was transporting a 441-foot barge from Houston to Tampa when it ran aground on a sand bar about 5:45 p.m. on April 2.
The double-hulled barge is carrying 119,000 barrels fuel oil.
Petty Officer Robert Simpson said thus far no signs of leaking had been detected. He also said that the sand bar where the barge went aground was not in a protected area.
An HC-130 search plane was dispatched from Air Station Clearwater to check for pollution on Wednesday. The Coast Guard is broadcasting an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast to alert mariners of a hazard to navigation in the area.
Simpson said because the barge is located outside the normal shipping channel, vessel traffic has not been affected. The broadcast is to warn pleasure boats and fishing boats of the barge’s position.
The tug Buccaneer attempted to re-float the barge Wednesday evening at high tide, but was unsuccessful. Another attempt using three tugs, the Buccaneer, Tampa and Gasparilla, just before noon on Thursday also was unsuccessful, Simpson said.
A third attempt is scheduled at high tide on Thursday, Simpson said.
If the tugs can move the barge backwards off the sandbar on Thursday night, divers will thoroughly inspect the hull before allowing the barge to move into the shipping channel and go on to Tampa.
“Divers will thoroughly inspect the hull to make sure it’s fully intact,” Simpson said. “It will be inspected again when it docks.”
If the tugs are unable to move the barge Thursday night, the plan will be to move another barge into the area for a fuel transfer to lessen the weight.
"We are working with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), K-Sea and other agencies to safely re-float the barge," Coast Guard Capt. Joseph A. Servidio, Captain of the Port of Tampa, said in a press release. "The ocean bottom in the area where the Yankee grounded is reported to consist of sand and mud, and no environmental impact has been reported."
Simpson said if a second barge had to come into for a fuel transfer, the operation would be carried out in the most controlled way possible. He said a safety zone would be created by blocking off the area. The area also would be “boomed” as a precaution against any possible oil leak.
Because the barge is currently sitting on the bottom, Simpson said it was impossible to tell the extent of any damage to the hull.
“But it has a double-plated hull,” he said. “Chances are it will be OK. There have been no signs of any leaking.”
Simpson said the investigation was ongoing as to why the barge had moved out of the shipping channel and run aground. Alcohol testing was performed on the Yankee crewmembers and drug testing is being conducted.
No injuries were reported.
Egmont Key is located at the mouth of Tampa Bay, southwest of Fort DeSoto Beach.
Correction:
Changed Chief Petty Officer to Petty Officer.
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Article published on Thursday, April 3, 2008
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