Storms in the San Francisco area devastate the Navy

The latest storms that swept across the San Francisco Bay Area earlier this week sent several ships, docks and barges adrift, causing navigational safety issues in the area

Three 60-foot barges drifted and caused a collision with the 3rd Street Bridge at McCovey Cove, which led to Mission Creek. The Prevention Division of the US Coast Guard Sector of San Francisco was alerted to the situation and sent out a notice to seafarers noting that the area was closed to shipping. A final assessment of the bridge is pending pending an inspection by engineers. Coast Guard responders found no sign of pollution and the barges were secured with the help of tugboats.

The San Francisco Station, Coast Guard Cutter Hawksbill, an 87-foot Marine Protector-class patrol boat, and an Oakland naval unit responded to several drifting docks with ships moored to them in the Oakland Estuary. All docks and ships are securely secured.

The Coast Guard Golden Gate responded to several drifting vessels in Richardson’s Bay, Sausalito and the Tiburon area. All ships were secured and people were helped.

Any potential navigational hazards have been mitigated through federal, state, local government and commercial partnerships, the Coast Guard said.

Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Services maintain communications with bar pilots in San Francisco to ensure the continued safe movement of merchant vessels. And Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco conducted a flypast over the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers to better understand maritime security for key shipping channels.

The Coast Guard said it will continue to monitor situations in the San Francisco Bay Area and respond as necessary.