On the evening of November 26, the 192 meter long, 20236 dwt self-unloading bulk carrier Robert S. Pierson (IMO: 7366403) ran aground on the Detroit River south of Belle Isle along the shoreline of William Milliken State Park, Michigan. The Robert S. Pierson departed from Windsor, Ontario with 18,000 tons of stone bound for Lorain, Ohio when it stranded in the mud some 30 feet off the shoreline.
The United States Coast Guard was alerted and 2 tugboats were dispatched to help free the bulk carrier. The tugs would work through the night and was able to free the Robert S. Pierson the following morning.
The vessels then proceeded to Windsor where it would be inspected. There were no reports of injuries or pollution released. The cause of the grounding was not disclosed.
On the morning of November 18, a barge being towed by the 31 meter long, 330 gt tugboat Malolo (IMO: 7614082) sustained damage in the Fisher Channel approximately 15 kilometers east of Bella Bella, British Columbia, Canada. The vessels were en route from Alaska bound for Seattle, Washington when the barge hull was holed. Divers were called out and found that part of the barge hull had been compromised and suffered water ingress, but was in stable condition and in no risk of sinking.
The Canadian Coast Guard was alerted and had the vessels moved to a nearby anchorage. Booms were deployed around the barge as a precautionary measured. Reports state another barge has been dispatched to help lightered the cargo.
Photo: cbc.ca
Photo: cbc.ca
Photo: cbc.ca
Photo: timescolonist.com
Photo: timescolonist.com
Photo: ctvnews.ca
Authorities have suggested the barge may have struck bottom on its voyage as why the hull was damaged. No reports of injuries or pollution released.
On the evening of November 19, the 170 meter long, 6499 dwt ro-ro passenger ferry Queen Jenuvia II (IMO: 9901386) ran aground in the Yellow Sea near the uninhabited island of Jokdo and Jangsan Island in the southwestern edge of South Korea. The Queen Jenuvia II had departed from Jeju with 267 passengers and crew bound for Mokpo. As the vessel approached the area off Jangsan Island, the vessel struck a rocky outcrop. The grounding caused the vessel’s main engines to power down and caused a 15 degree list to port, but there was no reports of flooding.
Authorities were alerted and dispatched all possible resources to rescue passengers off the Queen Jenuvia II. The Coast Guard dispatched 17 patrol boats, 4 coastal rescue vessels, and 1 aircraft which arrived an hour later. After 3 hours, all 246 passengers would be safely rescued off the ferry. The 21 crew members would remain onboard to assist with towing operations. Twenty-seven passengers had suffered minor injuries and would be taken to hospital for treatment.
Photo: chosun.com
The ferry would later be pulled free and towed to a nearby port. An inspection found the ferry had sustained significant hull damage with part of the bow crushed. The full extent of damage has not yet been released.
According to initial investigation by authorities, the South Korean Coast Guard identified the cause of the grounding. The ferry was left on autopilot in an area requiring manual operation. The officer handling navigation was reported to be distracted by their mobile phone at the time of the incident. The Coast Guard stated the navigation would be typically handled by the first officer who was not on the bridge nor the master at the time of the incident. There are plans to purse criminal charges against those found responsible for operational negligence.
