The SN Federica, a
750-foot tanker vessel, sits dead in the water after running aground 35 miles
off Galveston March 31, 2015. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd
Class Dustin R. Williams)
MARCH 31, 2015
HOUSTON, TEXAS
The Coast Guard has been monitoring response efforts for an
oil tanker that ran hard aground Tuesday, 35 miles east of Galveston. The
tanker was freed from grounding as it refloated at 9 p.m.
At approximately 8:30 a.m., Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders received a call from the captain of the SN Federica, a 750-foot Italian flagged oil tanker, reporting that while transiting into the Galveston Fairway they ran aground and incurred damage to the forepeak of the vessel, causing an ingress of water.
Watchstanders launched crews from Marine Saftey Unit Texas City, Station Galveston and Air Station Houston to respond to the incident.
The SN Federica was carrying nearly 17 million gallons of crude oil.
Once on scene, a Coast Guard marine casualty inspector and an investigating officer confirmed that the oil tanker was not taking on water and that there was no pollution. Coast Guard crews also confirmed that the previously reported ingress of water was from the ships ballast tank.
The SN Federica initiated their vessel response plan and began the process of dewatering their ballast tanks. The vessel completed ballast operations and was finally refloated at 9 p.m., with no pollution or injuries.
MSU Texas City is overseeing the seaworthiness assessment and investigating the cause of the incident.
The Coast Guard Captain of the Port issued an order to restrict the vessel from federal waters until a damage assessment, underwater hull survey, dive report and ship's classification survey report are complete to validate the seaworthiness of the ship.
At approximately 8:30 a.m., Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders received a call from the captain of the SN Federica, a 750-foot Italian flagged oil tanker, reporting that while transiting into the Galveston Fairway they ran aground and incurred damage to the forepeak of the vessel, causing an ingress of water.
Watchstanders launched crews from Marine Saftey Unit Texas City, Station Galveston and Air Station Houston to respond to the incident.
The SN Federica was carrying nearly 17 million gallons of crude oil.
Once on scene, a Coast Guard marine casualty inspector and an investigating officer confirmed that the oil tanker was not taking on water and that there was no pollution. Coast Guard crews also confirmed that the previously reported ingress of water was from the ships ballast tank.
The SN Federica initiated their vessel response plan and began the process of dewatering their ballast tanks. The vessel completed ballast operations and was finally refloated at 9 p.m., with no pollution or injuries.
MSU Texas City is overseeing the seaworthiness assessment and investigating the cause of the incident.
The Coast Guard Captain of the Port issued an order to restrict the vessel from federal waters until a damage assessment, underwater hull survey, dive report and ship's classification survey report are complete to validate the seaworthiness of the ship.