Domestic Maritime Casualties: In Brief

Miami, Boothbay Harbor, ME and Gulf of Alaska in the news

•Coast Guard Responds to Freighter Allision in Miami, FL

The U.S. Coast Guard responded to a freighter allision which occurred at Government Cut in Miami on Sunday, 22 June. Acording to Coast guard reports, the motor vessel Rio Haina, a Panamanian-flagged 252-foot freighter, lost power and steering capabilities while outbound from the Miami River and allided with the breakwall at Miami Beach Marina in Miami Beach, FL. A response boat from Coast Guard Station Miami Beach was immediately dispatched to the scene. Once on scene, Coast Guard crewmembers confirmed there was no sign of pollution and no injuries, although two vessels tied up at the marina sustained damage.

Eventually, the vessel was safely removed from the breakwall at Miami Beach Marina in Miami Beach, Fla., at approximately 1300 hours of the same day. During high tide, the Rio Haina was refloated and towed by tugs to the Bernuth Terminal across from the Port of Miami. The exact cause of the incident is still under investigation.

The Coast Guard currently has three pollution investigators, two marine investigators and one marine inspector on scene. According to the Coast Guard, Vessel traffic through the Port of Miami has not been affected, although vessels entering or departing Miami Beach Marina should use caution and transit at a slow speed. The cause of the incident is under investigation.

•Passenger vessel runs aground in Maine

The Coast Guard reported that the Charter vessel Argo ran aground near Boothbay Harbor, ME at about 1200 hours on Sunday, 2 June. At the time of the incident, there were reported to be 3 crewmembers and 136 passengers aboard. There were no immediate reports of injuries or pollution. Coast Guard Station Boothbay Harbor received a radio call from the 65-foot vessel reporting they had run aground near Spruce Point, after which, the Coast Guard launched a 25-foot and 47-foot boat crew from Boothbay Harbor. Eventually, the vessel was able to re-float on its own and was escorted by the Maine Marine Patrol to its destination, Cabbage Island.

A Coast Guard marine investigator has reportedly been dispatched to inspect the Argo to assess the damage and help determine the cause of the grounding. Beyond this, a Coast Guard aids-to-navigation unit is scheduled to verify the position of the buoys in the area to determine if there were any discrepancies. Coast Guard boats have since escorted the vessel and its passengers back to Fisherman's Wharf in Boothbay Harbor where the vessel will be inspected by investigators.

Conditions in the area were calm seas with winds around 10 miles per hour and 200 yards of visibility. The case is under investigation. "We are investigating the causes of how this incident occurred in our ongoing efforts to keep our waterways as safe as possible"," said Lt. Lisa Tinker, the command duty officer at Sector Northern New England.

•Coast Guard Responds to Report of Container Ship Fire

KODIAK, AK: Late last week, the Coast Guard responded to a fire aboard a 781-foot container ship with 32 people onboard 700 miles south of Dutch Harbor, AK. The command center in Juneau received the report from the Republic of Malta flagged Vessel, India Lotus. A Coast Guard C-130 and the 378-foot Coast Guard Cutter Mellon were dispatched. With the Mellon approximately 800 miles away, the C-130 was expected to be on scene within hours but the stricken vessel later notified the Coast Guard that they were no longer in need of assistance.

The owners of the vessel have reportedly contracted for a tow, but additionally reported a shortage of food and water as result of the fire. They also contracted for the delivery of food and water from Dutch Harbor. The Coast Guard Cutter was recalled, but the Coast Guard remained on a four-hour communications schedule with India Lotus.


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