From the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office
The San Juan County Sheriff’s Patrol Vessel based on Orcas Island [assisted] the Coast Guard on the scene of the grounding of the barge St. Elias [on Monday afternoon, Oct. 10].
The 322-ft. barge was being towed by the tug Henry Brusco when it ran aground early Monday morning on Belle Rock, between Anacortes and Center Island in San Juan County waters. The barge was carrying a mixed cargo that includes an estimated 9,000 pounds of Navy munitions.
According to Undersheriff Jon Zerby, “San Juan Sheriff staff are assisting the Coast Guard with establishing a 2,000 yard security perimeter around the site of the grounding.”Oil boom has been deployed around the barge, but there is no sign of any spillage at this point. Coast Guard personnel are currently working with the vessel owners to refloat the barge and ensure safe handling of all of the cargo on board. There has been no impact on ferry traffic at this point in time.
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