SOUTH PORTLAND (AP) – A barge that was being towed out of Portland Harbor struck the Casco Bay Bridge on Wednesday. No injuries were reported and the Coast Guard said there appeared to be no major damage.
The accident took place around 7 a.m. Wednesday around the time that one side of the drawbridge linking Portland and South Portland was stuck in the open position, forcing southbound motorists to seek alternate routes.
The problem on the bridge was the result of a switch malfunction, according to the Maine Department of Transportation. It was not immediately clear if the malfunction was related to the accident involving the barge and tug.
The Ruby M was towing the 328-foot Energy barge from the side when the vessel brushed against the bridge fender on the right side, Coast Guard Lt. Lisa Tinker said.
The 95-foot tug and barge had more than 21,000 gallons of fuel aboard, none of which spilled into the harbor, officials said. There was no cargo aboard the barge, which was headed to New York.
The Coast Guard was assessing the damage to the bridge, and officials launched an investigation of the accident.
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