NEW BEDFORD — Residents were concerned that a barge was sinking a little before 11 a.m. in New Bedford Harbor when it appeared to split in half.

But they had nothing to worry about.

This type of vessel is called a split hopper dump scow. It’s used in dredging and designed so that it can open its hull to dump dredged soil and sand, and seems to split in half.

Fairhaven Fire Department called

Fairhaven Fire Department Capt. Paul Correia said a resident thought the vessel was sinking and they were called to investigate.

“By the time we got down there, it had flattened out so it looked like a regular barge and then it did it again. The harbormaster said that’s what the vessel does.”

“They weren’t dumping anything. They were just operating it and it caused some concerns for residents in

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