Tropical Storm Ida's remnants are keeping the Coast Guard and other maritime crews busy.

Heavy seas have forced officials to close the Port of Hampton Roads and caused barges to break loose from their tugboats.

Coast Guard officials say a 570-foot barge carrying containers of chemicals has grounded in the Sandbridge area of Virginia Beach after it broke free Thursday night from a tugboat. The barge was being towed from Puerto Rico to New Jersey.

Two salvage crew members were lowered by helicopter onto the barge in an effort to stabilize it and prevent it from striking a fishing pier.

Hazardous-materials crews are heading to the scene but the Coast Guard says the chemicals appear to be secure.

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