Tanker Free after Grounding off Texas
The oil tanker that ran aground on Tuesday, 35 miles east of Galveston, Texas, has now been refloated.
Tuesday morning, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders received a call from the captain of the SN Federica, a 750-foot Italian flagged oil tanker, reporting that while transiting into the Galveston Fairway they ran aground.
The vessel’s forepeak had been damaged, causing an ingress of water.
The SN Federica was carrying more than 400,000 barrels of crude oil, or nearly 17 million gallons.
Once on scene, a Coast Guard marine casualty inspector and an investigating officer confirmed that the oil tanker was not taking on water and that there was no pollution. Coast Guard crews also confirmed that the previously reported ingress of water was from the ships ballast tank.
The SN Federica initiated their vessel response plan and began the process of dewatering their ballast tanks. The vessel completed ballast operations and was finally refloated at 10:32 p.m., with no pollution or injuries.
The Coast Guard Captain of the Port issued an order to restrict the vessel from federal waters until a damage assessment, underwater hull survey, dive report and ship's classification survey report are complete to validate the seaworthiness of the ship.