On the evening of January 12, the 152 meter long, 16736 dwt bulk carrier Harvest Spirit (IMO: 9655951) ran aground on the St. Marys River off Neebish Island, Michigan. The Harvest Spirit was en route from Thunder Bay to Windsor with a cargo of canola when it suffered mechanical failure and power failure. The bulker carrier continued to drift until it went aground on the sandy bottom. The river current eventually swung the Harvest Spirit stern around and freed the vessel a few hours later. The 31 meter long tug Wilfred M. Cohen (IMO: 7629271) arrived on scene and assisted the Harvest Spirit to turn around and continue on its voyage down river. The vessel would proceed under its own power to Mud Lake where it dropped anchor.
No reports of injuries, damage or pollution released.
On the night of October 8, the 623 foot long, 50259 dwt bulk carrier Algoma Verity (IMO: 9183776) ran aground on the Delaware River off Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Algoma Verity had departed from Philadelphia en route upstream to the port of Fairless Hills with 45,000 tons of solar (water softening) salt when it veered outside the navigation channel and went aground. No reports of injuries or pollution released.
The United States Coast Guard is monitoring the situation. Vessel traffic was restricted near the the grounded vessel. The Coast Guard is working on plans to refloat the Algoma Verity and tow it to a nearby terminal where it would undergo inspection.
On the evening of January 6, the 105 meter long, 4999 dwt tanker Sanwa Maru (IMO: 9847217 ) ran around off Cape Esan near Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan. The Sanwa Maru was en route from Tomakomai to Akita with 3800 kilolitres of diesel and kerosene when it stranded on rocks just off the shoreline. Initial reports stated the vessel was stable with no injuries to the 11 crew on board and no oil pollution being released.
The 2906 gt salvage tug Koyo Maru (IMO: 9966348) was dispatched the following morning on January 7 from Muroran to refloat the Sanwa Maru. Multiple attempts to pull the tanker free failed and salvage would resume on January 8. On the morning of the 8th, authorities found the Sanwa Maru had sustained hull damage with one of its fuel tanks holed. Oil booms were placed around the vessel, but some of the oil spilled has spread along the coast reaching the town of Esan. The tanker also has a 5 degree list to starboard suggesting there is water ingress into the tankers ballast tanks as well. Reports state the tanker’s holds are still intact as no diesel or kerosene has been released into the sea.
The Sanwa Maru requested that 7 of the crew be evacuated with the Hakodate Coast Guard transferring the crew safely to shore. Four crew remain on board to assist in salvage efforts. Reports state salvage plans will continue to pull the Sanwa Maru off the rocks and tow it to a nearby port. Reports state local fishermen are concern about the amount of pollution released and its impact on the local environment.
