09/20/2026
One great thing about the towing and recovery world… you NEVER know what you’re going to get into.
Last week, our team was called for a recovery unlike most, a massive barge stranded on a rock in the middle of the Susquehanna River and taking on water.
When our crew arrived, approximately 20 feet of the rear of the barge was completely underwater and the hull was full of water. We spent several hours getting rigging into position, strategically planning the recovery and pumping water from the barge.
It quickly became apparent that we couldn’t pump the water out faster than it was coming in. We managed to move the barge approximately 30 feet before the rear settled onto the river bottom and was no longer floating. At that point, we made the decision to regroup and come back the following day with more equipment and a new plan.
Day two brought several additional pumps and attempts to slow the incoming water while we continued working to get the barge afloat. We deployed our drone to share consistent information with the team on shore. With help from some incredible locals and emergency agencies, the operation kept moving forward, but we eventually learned that the hull itself had been compromised.
That’s when a diver was brought in. The diver located an approximately 20-foot split in the hull and worked tirelessly to make the necessary repairs underwater. Once those repairs were completed, the pumps finally began winning the battle and the barge floated again.
From there, our crew was able to successfully complete the recovery and work the barge back to shore.
This one took multiple days, a whole lot of equipment, plenty of problem solving, and an incredible amount of teamwork.
A huge thank you to the fire departments, River Rescue, the diver, local boaters and everyone else who assisted us throughout this recovery. Jobs like this are a reminder of just how important it is to have good people willing to work together when the unexpected happens.
Another successful recovery in the books for our team!
