Runaway Barges Corralled

According to the Uniontown Herald Standard, 19 barges that had been tied off along the banks of the Monongahela River broke free on April 4. The barges, owned by Consol Energy, wedged themselves against both sides of the bank about half a mile upstream from the Intercounty and the Lane Bane Bridge and stuck there until tugboats pulled them loose and crews were able to tie them off along the riverbank. The barges were kept at docks owned by Brownsville Marine Products. Emergency personnel were notified that the barges had broken free and were drifting down the river toward the bridges at 4:57 p.m. Crews spent almost two hours getting the situation under control. The barges were tied off by 6:30 p.m., the crowds that gathered along the riverbank disbanding shortly thereafter. While loose, the barges moved slowly and were spinning around, blown about aimlessly by the wind. The U.S. Coast Guard, in addition local police, fire and ambulance crews, was also notified of the incident. (Source: Uniontown Herald Standard)