The 17.5 meter long tugboat JC sank at Holyhead harbour, Wales. There was no one on board the tugboat when it sank at its berth in 3 meters of water. The authorities placed booms around the vessel to contain any pollution released. The vessel had some six tons of diesel fuel and 50 litres of oil on board at the time of the sinking. The cause of the sinking was not reported.
The 730 dwt freighter Johanna K. allided with the Berbice River Bridge near East Berbice-Corentyne, Guyana. The small coastal freighter was proceeding up the river when the master fell asleep at the wheel. The vessel ran up onto one of the bridge’s pontoons. Tugs were requested and were able to pull off the Johanna K. off the pontoon. River and bridge traffic was halted while the vessel remained grounded. No reports of injuries or pollution being released. The Johnanna K. was carrying a cargo of sugar from Blairmont at the time of the incident.
The 56 meter long freighter Jireh ran aground near Mona Island, Puerto Rico. The vessel loaded with 100 migrants passengers was en route to St. Martin when it struck a reef. Some 80 passengers swam ashore to the island with the remaining passengers staying on board.
Coast Guard Watchstanders in Sector San Juan received notification of the incident at approximately 6:50 a.m. Thursday from Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, who reported the incident.
Coast Guard Watchstanders immediately launched an Air Station Borinquen MH-65 Dolphin helicopter to the scene and notified federal and state agencies of the situation. The Coast Guard Cutter Cushing is currently on scene assessing the situation, rendering assistance and accounting for all the people who remain on board the vessel.
At this time no signs of pollution have been detected in the water. Coast Guard pollution response personnel are responding as rapidly as possible and will be arriving on scene Thursday to conduct a more thorough assessment.
Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol agents, Puerto Rico Police Joint Force of Rapid Action and Puerto Rico Department of Natural & Environmental Resources marine units are coordinating to determine a plan of action to transfer the vessel passengers from Mona Island, while the Coast Guard is also coordinating with federal and local agencies to assess any environmental impact that may have been caused by the grounding of the vessel.
