La Princesa Barge Grounding; Sandbridge, VA (Virginia Beach)

Sandbridge, VA (Virginia Beach) | 2009-Nov-13

Initial Notification: A barge carrying hazardous materials broke free from a tug on November 12, 2009 and grounded off Sandbridge, Virgina on November 13, 2009. Captain Mark Ogle with the U.S. Coast Guard says the La Princesa was near Cobbs Island off the Eastern Shore when two cables broke around 11:00 p.m. November 12. By 6:30 a.m. Friday, the vessel grounded about a quarter mile from the Little Island Park Pier. The 570-foot barge carries various chemicals that the Coast Guard considers hazardous material. 84 HAZMAT loads, containing products such as syrup for soft drinks, alcohol, empty cylinders formerly containing water purification chemicals, and chlorine, etc. are on board, according to ship's owner Crowley Puerto Rico Service, Inc. As of November 13, Titan Salvage has been engaged and a salvage master is on site. A naval architect and assistant salvage master are en route and removal plans are being developed. Officials expect improving weather conditions to enhance salvage and removal efforts. The barge left San Juan, Puerto Rico on November 6 and was headed to Pennsauken, New Jersey (in the Philadelphia area). USCG Sector Hampton Roads has requested information on potential human health and environmental impacts if there is a release.