The Coast Guard rescued a three-person crew from a sinking barge on the Quillayute River near La Push, Washington on Monday night.

The Coast Guard received a report of a dredge hung up on its anchor and taking on water shortly before 9 p.m., and sent two rescue boats to assist. By 9:30, the Coast Guard had taken all three people onboard the barge, Bar Fly, onto a 25-foot rescue boat. The rescued crew was taken to the Coast Guard’s station on Quillayute River and there were no injuries reported.

The larger rescue boat was able to take the barge out of the channel, but by 8 a.m. the following morning, the boat had overturned and sunk in about 10 feet of water. The barge has two 500-gallon tanks with about 200 gallons of diesel fuel and 150 gallons of hydraulic fuel onboard. A sheen of about 100 feet long had spread out around the barge, and a boom was set up to help contain the spill.

On Tuesday afternoon, a diving and salvage company was on the scene to assess the barge and come up with a salvage plan. The state Department of Ecology is also helping with the spill recovery process.

About Marty McOmber

Marty McOmber is editor and co-founder of Three Sheets Northwest. He is an avid sailor and long-time professional journalist. You can find Marty aboard Three Sheets, an Island Packet 38.

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