The 236'x43' dredge William L. Price and an associated hopper barge sank on the Ohio River at Mile Marker 45 just before midnight on Sept. 10. The dredge is owned by Tri-State River Products, Beaver, Pa.
“The dredge had approximately 12,000 gallons of diesel fuel onboard, along with 140 gallons of lube oil and gas for the generator,” Petty Officer Cheyenne Basurto, USCG Heartland District, said in an email. “The adjacent hopper barge, which was filled with sand, also sank. MSU (Marine Safety Unit) Pittsburgh has deployed inspectors and an investigator to the scene. No injuries or personnel casualties were reported.”
Less than 20 gals. of oil had been discharged into the river as of Monday morning, Basurto said.
A spokesman for the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection said WVDEP will defer to the Coast Guard for any media inquiries.
The incident remains under investigation.
