According to reports, an ultra-large container ship named EVER FORWARD, with a capacity of up to 12,118TEU, left the Port of Baltimore, Maryland for Norfolk, Virginia, shortly after leaving the port of Baltimore, Maryland. A serious stranding accident occurred at Chesapeake Bay.
The 1,095-foot-long container ship Ever Forward, which departed from Baltimore, was traveling between 8 and 13 knots, according to AIS data. The ship was sailing normally with a pilot on board.
The U.S. Coast Guard reported that the ship reported a grounding near Gibson Island at around 9 p.m. local time on March 13.
Local experts in the Chesapeake Bay said the ship may have missed a turn outside the fairway. Professor Matt Benehoff of the Annapolis School of Navigation gave his thoughts on the stranding in a video uploaded on social media.
They reported that the average water level in the area was 24 feet, while the normal draft for the container ship was 42 feet, which was fully loaded.
The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed there was no contamination or apparent damage to the vessel, but continued monitoring. They are also investigating whether there is a mechanical problem with the vessel itself. The Coast Guard has confirmed that the vessel is not located in the main shipping lane and does not pose a threat to other vessels passing through it.
Evergreen is also arranging for divers to conduct underwater inspections to confirm whether the hull is damaged. It is currently trying to free the cargo ship from the trap, and the rescue is continuing.
Rescue tugboats have been dispatched from near Baltimore, and the area and the container ship stranded can be seen from helicopters dispatched by local TV channels. Coast Guard personnel are at the scene assessing the situation and trying to determine the best way to refloat the vessel.