Barge hits dock in Sabula, Iowa

By Sheri Melvold | Thursday, July 19, 2007

SABULA, Iowa — A barge backed into the dock at the Home Port restaurant in a downpour, causing damage but no injuries.

Marcia Holmbo, owner of the bar and restaurant located at 515 N. River St. along the Mississippi River,  said the dock, two boats and a gas pump were damaged in the collision Wednesday night. The restaurant was not damaged.

She said she heard what sounded like cans crunching and saw the barge hit the dock about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday.

“It pushed the two boats under the dock. The Sabula Rescue pulled them out. No one was hurt. We have an automatic shut-off on the gas pump, so there was no fire,” she said Thursday.

She is waiting for an insurance agent to assess the damage.

Holmbo said there was a downpour at the time and the barge had pulled over on the river near some rocks, apparently waiting for the rain to let up so it could go under the railroad bridge.

“The barge was not empty. It backed up to get into position (to go under the bridge) and hit the dock,” she said.

The barge, named the Lori Ekstein, didn’t stop. Holmbo said she believes the pilot didn’t know he backed into the dock.

“We’ll be letting them know. This will hurt my business. Boats tie up to the dock on the weekend. There are boards missing on the dock and some welds,” she said.

A representative from the U.S. Coast Guard said the agency hadn’t received a report on the incident and doesn’t get involved unless an accident causes more than $25,000 damage or the property owner contacts them, or if a barge is damaged and not seaworthy.

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