Oil Spill Reported in Port of Baltimore

The US Coast Guard has launched an investigation into a potential oil spill on the Patapsco River at the Port of Baltimore after a 50-by-50-foot oil sheen was reported near the 623-foot-long motor vessel SSI Defiant, a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier. Coast Guard officials, along with the Maryland Department of the Environment and other partner agencies, conducted investigations on board the vessel while it was anchored in the Baltimore Inner Harbor. As a precautionary measure, a 1,500-foot safety zone was established around the ship to protect the environment.

The cause of the oil sheen remains unknown, and the Coast Guard is closely monitoring the ship’s pollution control measures to prevent any further harm to the surroundings. The incident was initially reported on Thursday evening when Maryland Pilot Dispatch flagged an unknown sheen surrounding the ship following a propulsion accident. Authorities have since conducted aerial surveys of the affected area and plan to continue overflights on Friday.

As of Saturday, the SSI Defiant remains anchored in Baltimore, with the Coast Guard continuing their investigation into the source of the oil sheen. Further updates on the situation are expected as more information becomes available.

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