BRENDA L MURRAY II

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Last of runaway barges salvaged

The last of a dozen runaway coal barges broken lose from the "Brenda L. Murray II" was removed from the Monongahela River on Feb 3. The barge, which had been partially submerged, was lifted and taken away from the river after weather delayed its removal. The only thing that remained wa just whatever the bridge owners would like to assess. Divers contracted by PennDOT and the Port Authority will inspect the damage. The lingering barge was one of several coal barges which shut down the Liberty, Smithfield Street, Fort Pitt, West End and McKees Rocks bridges on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. A second barge that hit the Smithfield Street Bridge was removed in January.

Barges broke lose from tug and allided with bridges

Bridges carrying traffic across the Monongahela River were closed in the morning of Jan 21, 2019, after 12 barges hauling coal broke loose from the "Brenda L. Murray II" and floated away. Officials closed the McKees Rocks, West End, Fort Pitt, Liberty, Smithfield and Panhandle bridges as crews inspected them for damage. The Liberty Bridge was struck by at least one barge and the Smithfield and Fort Pitt bridges possibly were struck. A barge hit the Panhandle Bridge used by light-rail cars, but the Port Authority determined it was safe to use. Around 8 a.m., tow boat crews secured a barge that was stuck against the Fort Pitt Bridge. Traffic started flowing across the bridge in both directions about 30 minutes later. Pittsburgh River Rescue boats scrambled to get inspectors to the bridges to assess any damage that might have occurred. Pittsburgh police officers went to congested areas to direct traffic. The West End and McKees Rocks bridges were among the first to reopen. All bridges reopened at 9.30 a.m. but not before the morning commute ground to a halt in some places and Port Authority of Allegheny County riders faced serious delays. Strong river currents caused the loaded barges to break free from the tug of the Murray American Transportation Inc. in Monassen. All of the barges have been secured, and the company was working with the US Coast Guard and other state and federal regulatory agencies to investigate the matter, and to determine the cause of the barge breakaway. The incident was reported just before 5 a.m., when some of the barges being pushed by the tow boat came loose around the area of the Liberty Bridge. Of the 12 barges that broke free, 10 were secured to moorings, while the other two were secured at the Smithfield Street pier. One was partially submerged. The barges will be cleared as soon as river conditions allow and the necessary equipment is able to be dispatched. There were no restrictions on area waterways and the Coast Guard has not been alerted to any harmful materials in the water. Report with photos: https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14527194-74/911-loose-barge-on-mon-river-shuts-down-three-bridges