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Virginia Beach, Va. - The giant runaway barge that grounded itself in Sandbridge Friday morning is finally free. Two tugs pulling at the bow and stern of the 580-foot long La Princesa dragged it off the beach at high tide this morning.
"It's been a tremendous relief all the way around for the entire team that's been involved with the project," said Mike Martin of Crowley, which owns the vessel. "I think we all were feeling pretty good this morning seeing her off the beach."
Coast Guard inspectors and a member of the American Bureau of Shipping will survey the vessel to ensure that it is seaworthy.
Once the survey team is satisfied, the tug Sentry will tow the barge to its next port of call in Pennsauken, N.J. The Sentry was towing the barge on its original trip when two tow lines snapped in the nor'easter. The storm drove the vessel 100 miles off course before it came to rest in Sandbridge.
Emergency officials say the good news is nothing leaked from the barge and they expect beach repairs to now go forward replacing sand and dunes destroyed by both the storm and the barge.
"It's been a tremendous relief all the way around for the entire team that's been involved with the project," said Mike Martin of Crowley, which owns the vessel. "I think we all were feeling pretty good this morning seeing her off the beach."
Coast Guard inspectors and a member of the American Bureau of Shipping will survey the vessel to ensure that it is seaworthy.
Once the survey team is satisfied, the tug Sentry will tow the barge to its next port of call in Pennsauken, N.J. The Sentry was towing the barge on its original trip when two tow lines snapped in the nor'easter. The storm drove the vessel 100 miles off course before it came to rest in Sandbridge.
Emergency officials say the good news is nothing leaked from the barge and they expect beach repairs to now go forward replacing sand and dunes destroyed by both the storm and the barge.
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