The U.S. Coast Guard is currently responding to the grounding of the 623-foot bulk carrier Algoma Verity in the Delaware River, located approximately a mile north of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. The incident was reported at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday by the pilot aboard the vessel, who stated that the ship had run aground. Fortunately, no injuries or pollution have been reported in connection with the grounding.
The Algoma Verity was traveling northbound with a cargo of around 45,000 tons of solar salt when the incident occurred. In response to the grounding, a Station Philadelphia 29-foot Response Boat-Small crew was deployed to the area to assess the situation. As of 8 a.m. on Thursday, the vessel remains aground outside the main shipping channel, with a team from Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay and the vessel’s representatives on board to monitor the situation and develop a plan to safely move the ship to a nearby terminal.
A safety zone has been established around the Algoma Verity, restricting vessel traffic from the Benjamin Franklin Bridge to Tioga Marine Terminal. The cause of the grounding is currently under investigation by the authorities.
