Barge refloated in James River
A 300-foot tank barge that grounded last Sunday in the James River below Richmond, Va., has been refloated, the U.S. Coast Guard said in a statement.
Divers found cracks in the bottom of the barge caused by the grounding. 'The barge is not leaking at this time,' the Coast Guard said.
Vane Line Bunkering Inc., of Baltimore, Md., the owner of the barge, is using escort vessels equipped with containment boom and cleanup materials to move the barge to a repair facility on the river.
An undetermined amount of diesel fuel leaked from the barge on Sunday, the Coast Guard said. An investigation into how the barge grounded is continuing. Several witnesses have called the Coast Guard and are being interviewed.
A safety zone created between James River Lights 154 and 156 remains in effect. No vessels may cross this zone without permission from the Coast Guard.