ESSEX

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Barge operator recovered from deckhouse

The body of a barge operator was recovered on Dec 3, 2014, nearly 24 hours after the vessel overturned at the Port of Wilmington. The body of 25-year-old Emmanuel Gatling Jr., who worked for Norfolk Dredging, was recovered by divers about 5:25 p.m. in the derrick barge's deckhouse. Gatling was operating the barge on Dec 2 when it overturned about 7:30 p.m. during a dredging operation near the mouth of the Christina River. His body was transported to the medical examiner's office on Dec 3 evening. Two other people were also on the barge when it capsized, but resurfaced from the water. The Wilmington Fire Department and U.S. Coast Guard searched the waters for Gatling on Dec 3 until the operation was suspended during the midday hours. A crew of six people from Walker Diving were brought in by Norfolk Dredging to assist with the operation and entered the river about 4:30 p.m. They recovered Gatling nearly an hour later. The prior evening, both agencies searched the waters until 10:30 p.m., when the operation was discontinued because of concerns over weather. It was still not clear what caused the barge to overturn, but the agency's safety group was investigating. Norfolk Dredging's salvage master would be arriving on Dec 4 morning to assess the situation and determine the steps needed to right the vessel. Reports with photo and video: http://6abc.com/news/official-body-pulled-from-capsized-barge-in-christina-river/419356/ http://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2014/12/03/body-found-christina-river/19861455/

One Missing After Crane Barge Capsizes in Delaware

The crane barge was reportedly attached to the 6,100 horsepower cutter suction dredge Essex. File photo courtesy Norfolk Dredging Company. The U.S. Coast Guard and local agencies are searching for a missing man in the Christina River after a crane barge capsized in the vicinity of the Port of Wilmington, Delaware on Tuesday evening.Missing is Emanuel Gatling, 25. An employee from Norfolk Dredging Company contacted Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay Command Center watchstanders at approximately 6:45 p.m. to report Gatling missing in the water. The employee reported three crewmembers fell into the water after a crane barge capsized. The barge was attached to the dredge Essex. Two of the men resurfaced from the water while Gatling remains missing. A 25-foot Response Boat-Small crew from Coast Guard Station Philadelphia has been dispatched and Wilmington fireboat crews are also searching for Gatling. Divers were reportedly searching the waters, however the underwater search has been called off for the night. Gatling was reportedly wearing an orange float coat.