The following is text of a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard:
(CHARLESTON, S.C.) — The Coast Guard responded Wednesday to a capsized barge near Surfside Beach.
Coast Guard Sector Charleston Command Center watch standers received a National Response Center report stating an unmanned 30-foot construction barge had capsized.
Sector Charleston deployed a Coast Guard Station Georgetown 29-foot response boat-small and Air Facility Charleston MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew to assess for pollution threats. No pollution has been reported at this time.
The Coast Guard is working closely with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control and Great Lakes Dredge & Dock, the owner, to identify potential hazards and remove the barge. Due to safety concerns, the Coast Guard is requesting the public avoid the area during the salvage operation.
The cause of the incident is under investigation.