Tanker Strikes Bridge in Northeast U.S.
Update with official USCG release:
The Coast Guard is responding to a 473-foot tanker that allided with the Sarah Long Bridge in Portsmouth, N.H., at approximately 1:30 p.m. Monday.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Northern New England received a report from the 473-foot, Portuguese flagged, motor vessel Harbour Feature that it became disabled and allided with the bridge. The vessel is carrying an unknown amount of tallow oil. Both of the vessel’s anchors have also been deployed.
Vessel traffic in the channel is closed until the Harbour Feature is able to be moved from the channel.
Two tug vessels are enroute to assist and will attempt to free the vessel at slack tide.
There has been no pollution reported.
There have been no injuries reported.
The Harbour Feature crew has reported a six-to-twelve inch rupture above the waterline of the vessel near the port ballast tank. At this time there is no water entering the ship and no pollution from the ship.
Responding are members from:
Coast Guard Station Portsmouth Harbor, N.H.
Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Portsmouth Harbor
Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter
New Hampshire Marine Patrol
Maine Department of Environmental Protection
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According to the U.S. Coast Guard, an oil tanker has struck a bridge that links Maine and New Hampshire. Currently there are no signs of a spill and no reported injuries.
The 473-foot Harbour Feature reportedly suffered from a mechanical failure at about 1:30 p.m. Monday and crashed into the side of the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge, which crosses the Piscataqua River between Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Kittery, Maine.
The Portuguese-flagged ship was transporting tallow oil, but there is no evidence of a spill.
Coast Guard crews are responding and will determine how much cargo and fuel oil is onboard and how to proceed with moving the ship to safety, confirms the Associated Pres
Source: http://www.maritime-executive.com/
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