NORFOLK, Va. — The Coast Guard and other response teams helped free a cargo ship that ran aground near Sewell's Point on Wednesday night. That is near Naval Station Norfolk.
The Coast Guard said its Virginia command center received a call that a Panamanian flagged 738-foot coal ship was stuck on a soft sandy bottom about a quarter mile northwest of Sewell's Point.
The Hong Dai's crew reported no injuries, pollution, or flooding concerns, according to a news release.
On Thursday, Sector Virginia investigation crews boarded the ship to assist the ship's crewmembers and assess damage and pollution threat.
A 45-foot Response boat crew from Coast Guard Station Portsmouth also responded to the incident as well as the Port of Virginia’s Maritime Incident Response Team.
At high tide on Friday morning, seven tug boats assisted in refloating the ship. It currently remains at anchor under a Captain of the Port Order restricting its movement until an underwater survey can be conducted by the company and the vessel is deemed fully safe to sail by the officer in charge of marine inspections.
At the time of the grounding, crew from the Hong Dai reported the bulk carrier had 22 members aboard and was carrying a cargo of coal, 188,000 gallons of low sulfur fuel oil, diesel, and lube oil, collectively.
