A Bahamas-registered bulk carrier ran aground in the Delaware River, about one mile north of Philadelphia's Benjamin Franklin Bridge.
At 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, U.S. Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector Delaware Bay were notified by the pilot aboard the 623' Algoma Verity that the vessel had run aground. There were no reported injuries.
The vessel was transiting northbound with a cargo of approximately 45,000 tons of solar salt when the incident occurred, according to the Coast Guard. The cause of the incident is under investigation.
The Coast Guard issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast notice to mariners and deployed a Station Philadelphia 29-foot Response Boat-Small crew to the area.
As of 8 a.m., Thursday, the vessel is still aground outside the main shipping channel, the Coast Guard said, noting its personnel are on board alongside the vessel’s representatives to monitor the situation and formulate a plan to refloat the ship and escort it to a nearby terminal.
There have been no reports of pollution, and the Coast Guard said it will continue to monitor the vessel for any potential changes.
A safety zone has been established around the Algoma Verity restricting vessel traffic from the Benjamin Franklin Bridge to Tioga Marine Terminal. Vessels seeking to transit the area are required to contact the Coast Guard Command Center one hour prior to transit.
Algoma Verity is a 2000-built Supramax self-unloading bulk carrier with a deadweight of 50,259 MT. Wholly owned by Algoma Central Corporation, St. Catharines, Ontario,
