A 16,909 DWT oil product tanker has struck the Sarah Mildfred Long bridge on the Piscataqua River, the river that forms the border between southern Maine and New Hampshire.
According to a report by the US Coast Guard, the 473-foot M/T Harbour Feature is believed to have suffered a mechanical failure before alliding with a span of the Sarah Mildfred Long Bridge at approximately 1:30 p.m. Monday. The report says that the crew has deployed both anchors and the vessel has suffered a six-to-twelve inch rupture above the waterline near the port ballast tank.
No pollution or injuries were reported and the bridge has been closed as crews assess salvage options and damage to the bridge.
The Harbour Feature is carrying an unknown amount of tallow oil and tugs are on scene.
AIS Data provided by MarineTraffic.com
Update 1: We should point out that the tanker is actually closer to the New Hampshire side of the river. The bridge crosses the NH-ME state line in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Kittery, Maine.
The below screenshot from Portsmouthwebcam.com shows the Harbour Feature still pinned against the bridge at 5:19pm EST.
The Coast Guard has indicated that the two tugs will attempt to free the vessel at slack tide.
Update 2: The Coast Guard says that at approximately 6 p.m., two tugs freed the 473-foot tanker Harbour Feature from the Sarah Long Bridge during a slack tide. The tanker is now at a nearby state pier. No injuries or pollution were reported as a result of the allision.
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