Barge in James River Refloated
The tank barge VB 53, which grounded in the upper James River on Sunday, May 8, 2005, was successfully refloated. Divers have determined that there are cracks in the bottom of the barge caused by the grounding. The barge is not leaking at this time. The barge is presently being moved north to the Kinder Morgan facility to be offloaded. The Coast Guard has required the responsible party to provide escort vessels equipped with containment boom and cleanup materials for the transit and transfer. Sensitive areas along the route have been protectively boomed off. Cleanup efforts are continuing, aided by favorable weather conditions. Two vacuum trucks are removing oil from concentrated areas. There are a total of 57 contract personnel engaged in the cleanup.
VDGIF Gets 2 New Safeboats
Conservation police officers with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) unveiled their newest tool in serving as First Tier Responders for small craft engaged in suspicious water-based activities today at an event at Osborne Boating Landing. The two, new 21-foot, 12-man Safeboats will enhance conservation police officers' surveillance, detection, and intervention capabilities as they patrol the Norfolk, Newport News and Portsmouth harbor areas. The event included brief remarks by Secretary of Natural Resources L. Preston Bryant, Jr., Secretary of Public Safety John W. Marshall, and Assistant to the Governor for Commonwealth Preparedness Robert P. Crouch followed by a demonstration of how effective a tool the Safeboats will be on the water.
