A New Wreck!

CHRONOLOGY OF OFFICIAL EVENTS:

At approximately 1:46 p.m. on December 23, 2004, the Coast Guard was notified that a 130' x 30' crane barge being towed by the tug HUDSON had capsized in the West Passage of Narragansett Bay. Current severe weather precludes an exact determination of the barge's position, or a determination of pollution, if any. No people were onboard the barge when it capsized. The Coast Guard is working with the barge's owner to mark the barge's position to alert mariners, and to arrange for salvage operations.

On December 29, 2004, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers located the sunken barge at exact location 41°-29'-14.5"N, 71°-24-17.5"W. The part of the barge nearest to the surface of the water is at a depth of 18.9' at Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW).

On December 30, 2004, the Coast Guard permitted certain shallow draft vessels to transit the waterway. Opening of the waterway to all vessel traffic was pending the placement of a lighted buoy to mark the sunken barge. The Coast Guard continues to work with the barge's owner to arrange for salvage operations.

On December 30, 2004, the Coast Guard established a red 'WR 8"
quick flashing buoy in position 41°-29'-14.5"N, 71°-24-20.5"W, to mark the sunken barge which remains at a depth of 18.9' at MLLW. This buoy will remain in place until the sunken barge is removed. The West Passage of Narragansett Bay is re-opened to all vessel traffic. However, vessels that choose to transit the West Passage of Narragansett Bay in the vicinity of the sunken barge should do so only by exercising extreme caution when navigating in this area.

On January 2, 2005, SS Divers descend on the site to explore and photograph the wreckage.

Check out the first video taken of the Crane and Barge in Narragansett Bay

Matt doing the camera work.

The crane's boom buried into the ocean bottom.

The wreck lies on its side, almost perfectly perpendicular to the bottom.

HARRY!

Gauges at the operator's station.

The crane's controls.

Matt checking out the crane's interior.

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