SALVORS are to remove cargo from the grounded containership Ever Forward as a means to lighten the vessel for another refloat attempt near the Port of Baltimore, the US Coast Guard said.
The 1,095-foot containership has been stationary since March 13, when it ran aground outside of the Craighill Channel in the Chesapeake Bay. No injuries or pollution have been reported.
Dredgers have been digging out around the vessel, and last week groups of tugboats were twice unsuccessful in trying to dislodge the vessel from the mud, reports New York's MarineLink.
Under new plans announced by the Coast Guard, crane barges will be used to remove containers from the stricken vessel to reduce its load ahead of the next refloat attempt. Lifting operations will commence as soon as cranes with suitable lift heights can be installed. Meanwhile, dredgers will continue to dig out around the ship to a depth of 43 feet.
'Salvage experts determined they would not be able to overcome the ground force of the Ever Forward in its current loaded condition. The new strategy offers the best chance of successfully refloating the Ever Forward,' the Coast guard said.
Boxes will be removed from both the port and starboard sides of the 12,000 TEU Ever Forward and placed on barges to be shuttled back to and offloaded at their original onboarding facility, Seagrit Marine Terminal in Baltimore. The Hong Kong-registered vessel is carrying 4,964 containers of general dry goods, according to the Coast Guard, who said lifting work will only take place during daylight hours for safety reasons.
Once the containers are removed, another refloat attempt will occur using tugs and pull barges.
The Coast guard said it expects the entire operation to last about two weeks, though the timeline could be impacted by weather conditions and other variables.
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The 1,095-foot containership has been stationary since March 13, when it ran aground outside of the Craighill Channel in the Chesapeake Bay. No injuries or pollution have been reported.
Dredgers have been digging out around the vessel, and last week groups of tugboats were twice unsuccessful in trying to dislodge the vessel from the mud, reports New York's MarineLink.
Under new plans announced by the Coast Guard, crane barges will be used to remove containers from the stricken vessel to reduce its load ahead of the next refloat attempt. Lifting operations will commence as soon as cranes with suitable lift heights can be installed. Meanwhile, dredgers will continue to dig out around the ship to a depth of 43 feet.
'Salvage experts determined they would not be able to overcome the ground force of the Ever Forward in its current loaded condition. The new strategy offers the best chance of successfully refloating the Ever Forward,' the Coast guard said.
Boxes will be removed from both the port and starboard sides of the 12,000 TEU Ever Forward and placed on barges to be shuttled back to and offloaded at their original onboarding facility, Seagrit Marine Terminal in Baltimore. The Hong Kong-registered vessel is carrying 4,964 containers of general dry goods, according to the Coast Guard, who said lifting work will only take place during daylight hours for safety reasons.
Once the containers are removed, another refloat attempt will occur using tugs and pull barges.
The Coast guard said it expects the entire operation to last about two weeks, though the timeline could be impacted by weather conditions and other variables.
SeaNews Turkey