A Liberian-flagged bulk carrier ran aground in the Chesapeake Bay early Tuesday after experiencing steering failure. The US Coast Guard reports no pollution and no injuries among the 22-member crew.
Incident Details
The 190-meter vessel was outbound from Baltimore loaded with coal when hydraulic steering system failure caused loss of navigation control. The master dropped anchor but the ship grounded on a sandy shoal near Smith Point.
Salvage Operations
Salvage tugs arrived within hours and are working to refloat the vessel during high tide windows. Divers have inspected the hull and found no breaches. Fuel tanks remain intact with booms deployed as a precaution.
Traffic Impact
The grounding has not blocked the main shipping channel, but vessel traffic management has established a slow-wake zone around the casualty site. Delays average 2-4 hours for ships transiting the area.
The Coast Guard and NTSB are investigating the steering failure cause.
