The 31 foot long fishing vessel Shekinah 2 ran aground just off the shore of Alamagan Island in the Northern Mariana Islands. The Shekinah 2 had run onto the rocks just 100 yards off the uninhabited island. Authorities in Guam were alerted and dispatched a patrol vessel to the scene. Rescuers had to travel nearly 300 miles to reach the Shekinah 2. The 110 foot long USCGC Assateague arrived and safely rescued all six crew off the fishing vessel. No reports of injuries.
The 526 foot long, 17229 dwt container ship Paul Russ ran aground while entering the port of Saipan, Northern Marianas. The Paul Russ had run onto a reef while transiting the channel into the harbour near buoy number 3. Reports states there is some 400,000 gallons of fuel oil on the vessel. No reports of injuries, damage or pollution released. The United States Coast Guard established a safety zone around the vessel as the Paul Russ has partially block the channel entering into the harbour. Initial efforts to salvage the vessel had to be halted after the discovery of unexploded ordnance near the vessel.
