The US Coast Guard and local partner agencies have successfully refloated a commercial vessel that had run aground in the Delaware River in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The bulk carrier Algoma Verity has since been moored at Tioga Marine Terminal approximately two miles (3.2 kilometres) north of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge.
The refloating was completed at 11:30 local time on Saturday, January 11, three days after the vessel ran aground just outside the main shipping channel. Coast Guard personnel, representatives from the ship’s owners, and contracted salvage personnel have remained on board to ensure the safety of the vessel, crew, waterway, and environment.
There have been no reports of crew injuries or damage to the vessel, which was laden with approximately 45,000 tonnes of solar salt when the incident occurred shortly after 18:30 on Wednesday, January 8.
A new safety zone has been established around Algoma Verity restricting vessel traffic from 100 yards (90 metres) upriver and 100 yards downriver of Tioga Marine Terminal. No vessels will be permitted to enter the safety zone without obtaining permission from the captain of the port or a designated representative.
Vessels wishing to transit the area will need to contact the Coast Guard Command Center one hour prior to transit by radio on VHF channel 16 or by calling the command center hotline at (215)-778-4289.