Freighter Runs Aground in Charleston Harbor (USA)

A 441-foot Liberian-flagged freighter ran aground in Charleston Harbor Tuesday at 6:23 pm after losing propulsion.

No damage or pollution was reported, and the vessel HR Recommendation, was successfully refloated at high tide Wednesday morning.

The vessel was inbound to Columbus Street Terminal in Charleston, S.C., when Coast Guard watch standers received notification the vessel had lost propulsion just inside the Charleston Harbor entrance jetties near buoys 20 and 22. The vessel subsequently ran aground outside of the channel in approximately 15 feet of water.

The Coast Guard immediately established a 100-yard safety zone around the vessel, and regularly scheduled commercial traffic was not affected.

At 5:19 a.m. Wednesday, Moran Towing vessels Cape May, Diane Moran, and Elizabeth Turecamo successfully refloated the vessel. It was safely escorted to Columbus Street Terminal. The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the incident.

[mappress]

USCG, December 13, 2012