One Barge Remains Pinned At Dashields Dam

Campbell Transportation Company has retrieved the final two barges that had lodged against Emsworth Locks and Dam following a 26-barge breakaway in the Pittsburgh area.

One barge remains pinned against Dashields Locks and Dam, Gary Statler, senior vice president-river operations, said in a statement on the company’s website.

Carol Vernon, chief of public affairs for the Pittsburgh Engineer District, said the last barge was cut up and removed from Emsworth Locks and Dam April 29 and 30. She previously said nine barges came to rest at Emsworth, with one of those later sinking and another breaking away due to river conditions. The river was closed between Emsworth and Dashields dams (Miles 6.2 and 13.3) until the sunken barge could be located. A salvage crew later removed it, and the river reopened.

Both Emsworth and Dashields locks and dams continued to operate as normal, the Corps reported.

Twenty-three loaded open hopper barges and three empty barges broke away from the mv. Miss Ivy Brynne about 11:30 p.m. April 12 in high-water conditions at Mile 1 on the Ohio River. No injuries or pollution were reported. The barges caused major damage at two marinas.

Caption for photo (click on photo for full image: Crews removed two barges from where they were pinned against Emsworth Locks and Dam following a 26-barge breakaway in the Pittsburgh area on April 12. One barge remains lodged at Dashields Locks and Dam more than a month after the breakaway. (Photo courtesy of Pittsburgh Engineer District)