UPDATE: Coast Guard, local agencies find sunken barge off Nahant

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 12/05/2018 04:59 PM EST

united states coast guard 

News Release  

U.S. Coast Guard 1st District Northeast
Contact: 1st District Public Affairs
Office: (617) 223-8515
After Hours: (617) 717-9609
1st District online newsroom

Coast Guard, local agencies find sunken barge off Nahant  

An officer from Quincy Police department prepares to lower side-sonar equipment into the water Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, to search for the missing barge that sank off Nahant, Massachusetts. The barge sank Sunday night and was carry construction equipment. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Alex Pace) This is a screenshot of the barge via the multi-bream sonar equipment taken on Dec. 5, 2018, in Boston Harbor, Massachusetts. The barge sank Sunday and was carrying construction equipment. (U.S. Coast Guard photo) A Massachusetts Environmental Police officer lowers sonar equipment into Boston Harbor Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018 to help locate a sunken barge. The barge sank Sunday and was carry construction equipment. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

Editors' Note: Click on images to download high-resolution version; read the initial release here.

BOSTON — The Coast Guard and partner agencies located the missing barge, Dredge 200, Wednesday after it capsized and sank earlier this week in Broad Sound approximately two miles southeast of Nahant. 

The barge's location was confirmed by a contracted company using multi-beam sonar just north of the North Channel, the major shipping lane into Boston Harbor, in approximately 100-feet of water.

Close coordination with the Boston Harbor Pilots was crucial to ensure maritime commerce impacts were limited and deep draft vessels carrying vital goods were able to safely transit into Boston.

Officers from Massachusetts Environmental Police, Massachusetts State Police, and Quincy Police departments arrived on scene Monday and began the search with side-scan sonar equipment.

Tuesday, the crew on the Quincy Police boat Guardian located an anomaly with their side-scan sonar equipment consistent with the characteristics of the sunken barge.

“I am grateful for the rapid and sustained support of our partner agencies," said Capt. Eric Doucette, Sector Boston commander. "Search conditions were not ideal, but the expert operators and boat handlers of the Massachusetts State Police, Massachusetts Environmental Police, and Quincy Police were still able to accomplish great things.” 

Thursday, contractors are scheduled to send a remotely operated underwater vehicle to further inspect and verify the condition of the barge and mark its location.

-USCG-