Barge breaks loose from moorings, hits seawall, blocks marina in Oswego
Published: Sunday, September 05, 2010, 11:54 AM Updated: Sunday, September 05, 2010, 12:09 PM
Catie O'Toole / The Post-Standard
Oswego, NY - Strong winds and large waves in Lake Ontario caused a 195-foot barge to break loose from its moorings early this morning and strike a wall in front of Patz Restaurant in Oswego, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
"It broke loose from the Port Authority dock and drifted up river into the seawall in front of Patz Restaurant," said Jason Furman, U.S. Coast Guard machinery technician 2nd class.
No damage and no injuries were reported. However, the barge blocked the entrance to a marina on the east side of the Oswego River, Furman said.
U.S. Coast Guard crews, with help from the U.S. Border Patrol, tied the barge to the seawall and a pier about 12:30 a.m. today so it wouldn't drift any farther into the marina.
About 11:15 a.m., Port Authority employees pulled the barge about 500 feet, back to its moorings, Furman said.
This is the first time Furman -- an eight-year U.S. Coast Guard employee -- said he has seen a barge break loose from its moorings because of the winds.
"The winds were really strong last night," he said. "It was a constant 20 knots (about 26 mph), with gusts over 25 knots (about 32.5 mph)."