The following is text of a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard:
(NEW YORK) — The Coast Guard and partner agencies responded to reports of several construction barges breaking away from their moored location on the Hudson River on Friday. The construction barges were reported drifting south of the Tappan Zee Bridge.
Six of the barges beached in various locations between Dodd's Ferry and Yonkers, N.Y. Another two barges grounded in the area of Palisades Park, N.J. The captain of the port instructed that a tug remain on scene with each barge until conditions stabilized.
Watch standers at Coast Guard Sector New York received the initial report of the adrift barges from Irvington Police Department in New York.
A small-boat crew from Coast Guard Station New York arrived on scene along with Westchester Police Department, FDNY and other local agencies, and confirmed the location of all eight construction barges.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers planned to conduct a first-light underwater survey of the channel between the Tappan Zee Bridge and the George Washington Bridge to determine if any underwater obstructions are present.
The Coast Guard will monitor the removal of the construction barges. There have been no reports of injuries or pollution at this time.
The Coast Guard is continuing to investigate the incident.
