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Halloween Barge Battered by Weather [Photo]
First responders from Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Chicago responded to a barge that was taking on water on the north side of Navy Pier on Friday afternoon.
Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan in Milwaukee received the initial report from the Chicago Police Department stating that the 132-foot barge, which was stacked with containers and being used as a Halloween attraction by Navy Pier, was taking on water.
When the responders from the Coast Guard arrived on scene, they reported that the barge had broken free of its mooring and was being pushed against the north side of the pier by the strong winds and heavy waves. Several of the stacked containers had fallen from the barge and were either completely or partially submerged.
No one was aboard the barge at the time of the incident. In addition, there are no reports of pollution.
The owner of the barge was notified and, once on scene, was able to secure the vessel and prevent it from drifting away.
The Coast Guard and representatives from Navy Pier and the barge company are monitoring the situation. The owner of the barge is expected to submit a salvage plan to the Coast Guard in the coming days.
