On April 20, the barge Beachmaster IV washed ashore near Lake Worth Inlet, Singer Island, Florida. The empty barge was being towed by the 30 meter long tugboat Na Hoku when it broke free while the crew change. The barge washed up on the beach, but was undamaged. No reports of injuries or pollution released. The Coast Guard has reported the barge will be pulled off the beach shortly.
On March 1, the 31 meter long tugboat Ocean Eagle ran aground on Mariposa Reef near Sitka, Alaska. The Ocean Eagle has proceeding through the Sumner Strait with a barge loaded with containers when it ran hard aground on a reef. The Coast Guard received a report the Ocean Eagle grounding and the tug had suffered water ingress in the engine room.
A Jayhawk Coast Guard helicopter was dispatched from Sitka and hoisted all five crew off the Ocean Eagle. No reports of injuries. Two Coast Guard cutters along with two tugs arrived on scene on March 2 to assist in salvage operations. A small sheen was spotted around the Ocean Eagle. The master of the Ocean Eagle stated the sheen was limited to a small amount of diesel fuel released from the tug’s day tank.
The following day, divers inspected the hull for damage. Tugs completed dewatering the Ocean Eagle and was refloated. The barge remained aground as a section was almost up on the shoreline. Reports state the barge and tugboat had some 110,000 gallons of diesel fuel on board at the time. The Ocean Eagle is to be towed to Ketchikan and the barge is to be refloated and towed to Sitka.
The 30 meter long towboat Austin C. Settoon allided with Racine Locks and Dam on the Ohio River near Meigs County, Ohio. The Austin C. Settoon was proceeding with three barges loaded with heating oil when one barge broke free at the lock chamber. The towboat and the remaining two barges were pulled by the current and pushed up against the dam.
No reports of injuries and no reports of damage to the vessel or dam. All three barges remain intact and no pollution was released. The Austin C. Settoon and barges will be pull free when the river level recedes the following day.
