Today will be the first attempt to refloat the Ever Green containership that is still stuck at Chesapeake Bay. The Evergreen Marine-owned containership Ever Forward ran aground in Chesapeake Bay after departing the Port of Baltimore Seagirt Terminal, 2 weeks ago.
Up until this moment, the Ever Forward remains stuck at Chesapeake Bay, when the containership ran aground after leaving the Port of Baltimore en route to Norfolk, Virginia.
On March 17, UK Webster, a marine and transit claims consultancy, noted that professional salvors have been appointed by shipowners on commercial terms in order to assist the refloating operation.
The executive director at the Maryland Port Administration, William Doyle, said that there is currently a salvage team on site at Chesapeake Bay and there will be an attempt to refloat it. He also mentioned that tugs will be involved in the operation.
However, if this effort is not successful, there is a more extensive plan for the following week in order to make the containership reflow again. Specifically, further attempts will be made on April 3 and 4 with the extra assistance of two anchored barges.
In order to refloat the 1,095-foot vessel, 5 tugs have been assembled. The US Coast Guard is extending the safety zone around the vessel to 1,000 yards, closing the navigation channel in that section of the Chesapeake Bay to traffic until approximately midnight.
More precisely, 2 tugs will be alongside pushing on the starboard side, while 2 additional tugs will be pulling along the portside. The 5th tug will be a long pull from the stern with the attempt that appears coordinated to the afternoon high tide.
The main concern of all parties involved … is to return the vessel to its operational status quickly and safely. As such, the issue of general average will be evaluated at a later date based on the progress of the refloating operation
…said Evergreen said last Thursday.
