Cuomo (center) at the scene
CATSKILL – The Tug Meredith Reinauer and barge RTC 150 ran aground on the Hudson River near Catskill Tuesday. At about 8:30 a.m. the northbound barge with 60,000 barrels of refined gasoline aboard ran aground on the west side of the river.
The Coast Guard, which had vessels and personnel on the scene, said it
appears that no product leaked into the water and the barge’s tanks
were not punctured in the incident. There were no reports of injury.
Reinauer Transportation Companies’, owner of the tug and barge, dispatched the Craig Eric Reinauer to assist with transferring the gasoline to another barge, the RTC103.
Governor Andrew Cuomo stopped off in the afternoon to get a firsthand look at the situation.
“Our concern is the Hudson and the water and the environment,” Cuomo said. “This is a water source for many communities as well as a habitat, etcetera.”
Late Tuesday night, the governor said the barge had been anchored on the open water of the river where it would stay until cleared to continue to the Port of Albany.
“Safety is our primary concern at RTC,” said company spokesman Gary Gould. “The captain and crew of the Meredith Reinauer are a highly experienced, highly vetted, professional crew, and we appreciate their quick action this morning to minimize the impact of this incident.”
