Salvage crews free grounded Crowley barge

Titan Salvage crews successfully pulled the Crowley barge La Princesa off Sandbridge beach north of Sandbridge Pier in Virginia Beach, Va., at 7:48 a.m. Wednesday.

The crews used two tugs pulling together on the bow and stern of the barge at high tide to free it. The barge, which broke free from the tug Sentry last Thursday night, grounded on the beach near Little Island Pier Friday morning.

Coast Guard inspectors and a member of the American Bureau of Shipping will survey the vessel to ensure it is seaworthy. Once completed, the Sentry was to tow the barge to its next port of call in Pennsauken, NJ.

"ASA members were there, once again, to provide a professional salvage response to quickly protect against injury to people, as well as the marine environment, in this successful response," commented American Salvage Association President Mauricio Garrido.