What’s that tiny barge doing near the Hilton Head bridge? Here’s what we found out
If you’ve driven over the Hilton Head bridges in the last six months, you probably would have noticed a small barge floating off the right side of the bridge in Mackay’s Creek.
Some call it an eyesore, but what is that thing, and why is it there?
The S.C. Department of Natural Resources is charged with keeping track of abandoned vessels left around the state. SCDNR spokesperson David Lucas spoke with a patrolling officer who checked out the barge near Buckingham Landing.
Here are three things we found out about the small barge and why it’s there:
1. It’s not sinking
Contrary to popular belief, the barge isn’t sinking. It’s anchored in the water with pylons and has the required visible lighting, Lucas said.
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2. It’s essentially a storage barge
There are no identifying markings on the barge, but it’s operated by Atlantic Marine Construction — a Burton-based dock builder.
“It’s a material barge,” Atlantic Marine Construction owner Dan Schultz said Friday. “Mostly we use it for demolition and holding materials.”
Schultz said the 18-foot barge acted as storage space for cleanup efforts and demolition projects during both Hurricane Matthew and Tropical Storm Irma.
3. It’s safe
The small barge is not leaking fuel into the water, according to Lucas.
It’s also not in a “navigable channel,” Lucas said. Since it’s anchored over an oyster shell bank in the water, it’s not impeding boat traffic.
“There is no navigational issue with it being anchored in that location, and the barge seems secure,” Lucas said.
This story was originally published March 7, 2019 at 1:55 PM.
