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From: Jon Paul Van Harpen
Category: Shipwreck Research
Date: 01 Dec 2004
Time: 20:30:41
Remote Name: 208.49.32.109
A freighter flying a Greek flag was on route to Marinette Fuel & Dock Co. with a load of pig iron grounded in 21 feet of water on Monday morning at 6:55 a.m. The 630-foot Chios Pride (named after a Aegean Greek Island) left Itaqui, Brazil on November 10 with 16,651 tons of pig iron coming through the St. Lawrence Seaway was almost insight of her destination when the grounding happened. She was drafting 23’-4” at the time and was in the center of the channel. Marine Safety Office Milwaukee and Marine Safety Detachment Sturgeon Bay personnel worked closely with the vessel owner to rectify the situation, and on Wednesday morning at 7:40 a.m. the stranded vessel was pulled free and was moved to deeper water. There was no loss of fuel and it does not seem to be taking on water and the vessel is safely anchored in 42 feet of water. The Canadian Bureau of Vessels, BV (similar to the American Bureau of Shipping, ABS) was in transit at the time of this writing and is bringing divers to do a hull survey and will be permitted to unload at Marinette if no severe hull damage is found. At present the Coast Guard is requiring a tug be present on scene 24 hours a day until the BV clears her. It took the efforts of three tugs to release the vessel Selvick Marine tugs from Sturgeon Bay William Selvick and Jimmy L. along with the tug Erika Kabosic, from Basic Marine in Escanaba completed the rescue. The Coast Guard is still investigating the incident and could not comment on the reason why the freighter grounded. Officials also planned to conduct drug and alcohol testing which is standard procedure for any transportation accident. The Selvick Marine tugs where relieved by the Coast Guard on Wednesday morning.