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Coast Guard Assists Sinking Barge Near Miami

Published Nov 8, 2011 4:05 PM by The Maritime Executive

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Seneca responded to a sinking barge approximately 10 miles east of Miami Monday afternoon.

The crew of a 94-foot tug boat towing a 270-foot barge notified Coast Guard Sector Miami watchstanders they were experiencing fuel problems and later became disabled and adrift.

The cutter Seneca arrived on scene and took the tug in tow. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Diamondback and a Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew also arrived on scene to monitor the situation.

The barge, which has 33 empty containers on deck, was believed to be taking on water. Divers from TowBoat U.S. are attempting to dewater the barge. A commercial tugboat is scheduled to arrive on scene Tuesday morning to relieve the cutter Seneca of its tow.

The cutter Seneca is a 270-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Boston.

The cutter Diamondback is an 87-foot patrol boat homeported in Miami Beach, Fla.

 

Source: U.S. Coast Guard