SISTERSVILLE, W.Va. — The historic Sistersville Ferry in Tyler County is out of service after the tugboat that pushes its car barge sank along the Ohio River.
The trouble began last week when the tug started taking on water. Crews attempted to pump out the vessel, but the effort was hampered when the city’s vacuum truck was unavailable due to a repair trip to Parkersburg. A backup pumping plan also failed because of elevation differences between the equipment and the boat. The tug eventually sank at the river’s edge.
A recovery operation is scheduled to begin Monday morning involving the U.S. Coast Guard, Clean Harbors of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department and the New Martinsville Fire Department rescue boat team.
The Coast Guard is overseeing the effort, which will first focus on removing fuel from the sunken tug before the vessel is lifted from the water. Divers and airbag lifting equipment from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department are also part of the salvage operation.
Sistersville Mayor Bill Rice said he is in contact with the ferry’s insurer, Great American Insurance Company, as the recovery and damage assessment continues.
