NY, Heating Oil Barge Runs Aground

A barge carrying more than 5 million gallons of home heating oil reportedly struck an unknown object and began taking on water near City Island, N.Y., at approximately 2:30 p.m., Jan 22.

No pollution is reported at this time.

The commercial tug Meredith C. Reinauer was pushing a barge to Boston, Mass., when they reportedly struck the object near Execution Rocks, N.Y.  The master of the tug contacted the Coast Guard and reported the barge was taking on water in a ballasting void.

The tug brought the barge to anchor off of Hart Island, N.Y. A Coast Guard 41-foot response boat crew from Coast Guard Station Kings Point was quickly on scene to confirm that the vessel was not discharging any oil.  Commercial divers from Randive, Inc. were quickly on-scene and conducted an underwater survey of the barge hull.

Miller Environmental Group, a commercial oil spill removal company, has placed a boom around the barge as a precautionary measure and is lightering fuel from it.

The Coast Guard and Nassau County Police are currently enforcing a 200-yard safety zone around the tug and barge while lightering operations take place.

"Coast Guard personnel on-scene will be monitoring this case throughout its entirety," said LT Brandon Link, Command Duty Officer at Coast Guard Sector New York.  "So far no pollution has been reported, precautionary measures have been taken and we will ensure all the proper steps are taken to safely secure the cargo."

The investigation into this incident is ongoing.