Barge runs aground in Gig Harbor, hits home KIRO 7 News Staff A large barge ran aground in Gig Harbor Monday morning, hitting a waterfront home off Sunrise Beach Drive. Coast Guard officials said the captain of the tugboat Island Chief fell asleep at the helm. The tug did not run aground, but the barge, named Island Chase, did, scraping the waterfront house. The tug was heading southbound at the time and the barge was empty. The general manager of Island Tug and Barge Company said his four-person crew was able to scramble into action to pull the barge off the beach and prevent more damage.