Columbia River Bar...

[mtskier]

Just in from a friend sailing the coast of Oregon:
We've been doing survey lines off of Pacific City, OR for the past week and a half. The weather is a whole lot mellower now. I just got off of watch. I was listening to the Coast Guard Astoria station talking to a tug that had their barge flip as they were crossing the Columbia River Bar. The barge is 245'x60' and they were trying to maintain control of it even though it was upside down. I can only imagine how much work that must be. The tug captain seemed pretty calm on the radio though.
MTSKIER
Update: Told it is the Tug General Jackson

[TxKingfisher]

ASTORIA, Ore. (AP) - The Coast Guard says A 295-foot Canadian barge carrying scrap metal has capsized near Astoria.
No injuries have been reported but a light sheen has been observed coming from the vessel. The Coast Guard says the barge was carrying about 500 gallons of diesel fuel.
Rescue vessels have been sent to the barge, which capsized in about 300 feet of water about eight miles from the Columbia River bar. The incident was reported by the crew of the Canadian tug General Jackson.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[rjbpilot]

Thanks for the photos. Looks like a stability issue, the sea state looks relatively calm....................

[seadawg]

that's a pretty good "hat trick"..witnessed and been party to a few barge sinking..never seen one "turn turtle" like that though??