US Coast Guard, partners refloat coal carrier that ran aground near Norfolk, Virginia

Tug and salvage teams from the US Coast Guard and local partner agencies have successfully refloated a cargo vessel that had run aground near Norfolk, Virginia, in the late evening (local time) of Wednesday, September 30.

The refloating of the Panamanian-flagged bulk carrier Hong Dai was conducted with the help of seven tugs at high tide on the morning of Friday, October 2.

The coal-laden vessel is currently at anchor in Norfolk where underwater surveys are being carried out to determine whether it is safe enough to once again sail under its own power.

Hong Dai had run aground on a shallow-water area with soft sand northwest of Sewell’s Point in Norfolk shortly after it departed a cargo terminal in nearby Newport News on Wednesday.

Coast guard officials have confirmed no pollution or injuries were reported during the incident.

See more stories from this month’s Tug and Salvage Week here.