Coast Guard Responds to Breakaway Barges on Ohio River

File photo: MarineTraffic.com/Duncan Williams

The U.S. Coast Guard on Thursday responded to a report of a breakaway barges at the Racine Lock and Dam on the Ohio River near Huntington, West Virginia.

Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley received a report that UTV Austin C. Settoon, pushing three barges loaded with approximately 3,780,000 gallons of natural gas condensate, allided with the lock wall at approximately 5:30 a.m, causing the three barges broke away.

The Coast Guard said one barge is contained in the lock but the other two barges are pinned against gates seven and eight of the dam, with the tug itself pinned against gates six and seven.

The Racine Lock and Dam is closed and has created a queue of 13 upbound vessels and 11 downbound vessels.

Members of Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Huntington are on scene to conduct a marine casualty investigation, and a unified command has been established, consisting of the Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers and Settoon Towing Company, as the responsible party, the Coast Guard said. 

The Coast Guard has issued a safety marine information broadcast via channel 16.

There have been no reports of injuries or pollution.

The cause of the incident is under investigation.

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