Video: Refloating Barges After Hurricane Matthew

[Brief] Salvors working with the U.S. Coast Guard have refloated one of two barges that went aground near Avon, North Carolina during Hurricane Matthew. 

The 140-foot construction barges were attached to Hatteras Island's Herbert C. Bonner Bridge before the storm arrived, but they broke free the afternoon of October 9 and went aground at Avon, almost 20 nm to the south. One of the two, KS 4512, was pushed fully up on shore. 

Both barges carried a small volume of diesel and hydraulic oil, in the range of several hundred gallons each. 

As a precautionary measure, local authorities evacuated people from the area around the barge KS 4503, near Weakfish Drive, Avon. It grounded just yards away from several beachfront homes.

The owner, PCL Construction Services, sent a site manager, and the Coast Guard dispatched a response team from Cape Hatteras. 

On Friday, salvors with New Orleans-based Center Lift used air bags underneath the KS 4512 to lift and roll it off the beach. A floating shearlegs provided a lift and tow from the water side, and a track hoe gave it a push from shore. The KS 4503 is next on their list.