SAN FRANCISCO – Federal, state, and local agencies responded to a sunk dredge barge in the San Jauquin River yesterday.
At 8:52 a.m. Coast Guard Sector San Francisco was notified that the bow of the 130-foot dredge barge Headway was submerged under water at its mooring in the San Jauquin River in Antioch, Calif. Crews aboard a 25-foot response boat-small from Coast Guard Station Rio Vista and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station San Francisco immediately responded to the scene along with personnel from California Department of Fish and Game Office of Oil Spill Prevention and Response, Contra Costa County Hazardous Material Response Unit, Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Marine Unit and Antioch Police Department.
Responders placed approximately 500 feet of boom around the Headway and other absorbent materials to collect the approximate five to 15 gallons of oily mixture released into the river. The owner of the barge has hired two contractors, one to commence dive operations to secure any hatches, deck openings, or vent lines and another to remove any further pollution threat on board the vessel. Both operations are scheduled to begin tomorrow morning.
Federal, state and local agencies are working with the responsible party to secure and alleviate the pollution threat and to oversee the salvage and resurfacing of the dredge barge.
