The extent of the damage, if any, to the
coral reef in Hagatna Bay by a barge that ran aground was not known.
The barge, the Tamara 5, associated with the U.S.-flagged tug boat June T was working on sewage system repair at the Hagatna Wastewater Treatment Plant when it ran aground.
According to U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Marcus Hirschberg, the primary concern of all the agencies involved is the safety of salvage personnel and minimizing the impact on the environment.
There were no injuries among those on board the vessel; however, four individuals went into the water around the barge. Those individuals safely made it back to the
grounded vessel.
The owner of the vessel is working closely with agencies including the U.S. Coast Guard, the Guam Environmental Protection Agency, the Guam Waterworks Authority, the Department of Agriculture’s Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources, and the Guam Homeland Security to address the “safe removal of the barge.”
The Coast Guard also issued a notice about prohibiting unauthorized boat traffic within a one mile radius of the barge.
While plans are still being worked out, the Coast Guard has set up a temporary command post across from the District Court in Anigua along Marine Corps Drive. The command post is equipped with a
pollution response trailer and communications equipment to assist with the removal.