USCG responds to grounded coal carrier

The Hong Dai sits aground a quarter mile Northwest of Sewell’s Point near Norfolk,Va/, October 1, 2020. [U.S. Coast Guard photo]

Coast Guard Sector Virginia and the Port of Virginia’s Maritime Incident Response Team are assisting the crew of a bulk carrier after it ran aground near Norfolk on Wednesday night.

Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector Virginia command center received notification from crewmembers aboard the Hong Dai, a Panamanian flagged 738-foot, 76,887 dwt, bulk coal carrier, stating that the ship ran aground on a soft sandy bottom approximately one quarter mile northwest of Sewell’s Point in Norfolk.

The Hong Dai’s crew reported no injuries, pollution or flooding concerns at the time.

Sector Virginia investigation crews boarded the ship Thursday morning and are assisting the ship’s crew in assessing damages and the threat of pollution.

A 45-foot Response Boat – Medium boatcrew from Coast Guard Station Portsmouth also responded to the incident as well as the Port of Virginia’s Maritime Incident Response Team.

According to the Equasis data base, the 2010-built Hong Dai is managed by Hong Kong based Cosco HK Shipping Ltd.

The vessel remains under a Captain of the Port order to remain in place and the Coast Guard is currently in communication with the ship’s owners to assist in establishing a salvage plan.