The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:
(SEATTLE) — The U.S. Coast Guard, has engaged federal and state partners, in their response to a report of a barge that struck a submerged object while transiting on the Columbia River at approximately 3 a.m., Friday.
The double-bottom barge Tri-City Voyager, which was being pushed by the tug Defiance, has approximately 1,770,000 gallons of diesel fuel on board. No immediate pollution is reported.
Coast Guard Sector Columbia River command center received a call at 3:13 a.m., from the agent of the Tidewater Tug Co., stating that the Tri-City Voyager struck an object in the water while transiting north on the Columbia River near The Dalles Dam. Defiance crewmembers conducted an immediate assessment, which included a sounding of their fuel tanks and bottom hull, and saw no breech and reported no pollution.
The tug and barge continued north, through the Dalles Dam locks, at approximately 4 a.m., and safely moored at the upper basin north wall. At approximately 4:09 a.m., The Dalles lock operators reported, to the Coast Guard, no smell of diesel fuel and no visible pollution.
Members of the Coast Guard Incident Management Division, from Sector Columbia River, in Astoria, Ore., are responding as well as marine inspectors from Marine Safety Office Portland, Ore.
