GIG HARBOR, Wash. — A large barge damaged three waterfront homes in Gig Harbor Monday morning.
Sergeant Darren Moss said the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department received a call about the incident around 8 a.m. The damaged homes are on the 9500 block of Sunrise Beach Drive NW.
The Gig Harbor Fire Department tweeted the barge ran aground when it struck the homes. No injuries or pollution were reported.
One of the homes is being stabilized, Gig Harbor Fire said.
Initial findings indicate that the master of the towing vessel fell asleep while navigating the vessel, the Coast Guard said, and the vessel operator initiated drug and alcohol testing for all personnel directly involved in the incident.
"The Investigating Officer has determined this to be a Serious Marine Incident, and initial damage estimates could be greater than $250,000," a Coast Guard statement said.
“Incidents such as this are very concerning,” said Cmdr. Nathan Menefee, Chief of Prevention at Sector Puget Sound. “Fortunately, nobody was injured, and the towing vessel did not release fuel or oil into the water. Sector Puget Sound will investigate the incident to determine the cause and whether additional actions are necessary to prevent a similar incident in the future.”