A 34-meter dredging barge sank and spilled an unknown amount of diesel fuel in Lake Huron, the U.S. Coast Guard said Thursday. Petty Officer Lauren Laughlin of the Coast Guard station in Cleveland, Ohio told the Associated Press (AP) that the commercial barge was being pushed by a tugboat Thursday when it sank in stormy waters about five nautical miles northwest of the entrance to the St. Clair River. As a result, the tugboat flipped over. According to the AP, Laughlin said all personnel from both vessels have been accounted for. Laughlin told the AP that there is a 152-meter sheen on the surface of the lake and although the dredge can hold 8,000 gallons of fuel, it was only carrying about 1,500 gallons at the time of the accident. She said it was uncertain how much spilled. According to the AP, Laughlin said that booms are in place but due to inclement weather, the cleanup may be hindered.
