Car Carrier Grounds in Chesapeake Bay Leaving the Port of Baltimore

A 760-foot Wallenius Wilhelmsen car carrier ran aground in Chesapeake Bay early Tuesday as it departed the Port of Baltimore, but the vessel was refloated without pollution or injury, the Coast Guard reported.

Members from Coast Guard Sector Virginia are assessing the condition of a Norwegian-flagged MV Tirranna, which is now safely anchored in the Chesapeake Bay.

The cause of the grounding is under investigation and there are no reports of pollution, injury or damaged.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Virginia received a report that the Tirranna ran aground in the vicinity of the Cape Charles Anchorage at approximately 3:30 a.m. The vessel was heading southbound on its way from Baltimore, Maryland to Savannah, Georgia.

The Coast Guard launched a team aboard a 29-foot Response Boat-Small from Station Cape Charles to provide an initial assessment of the situation. An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew from Air Station Elizabeth City conducted an overflight to assess the scene from the air.

“With the recent focus on global shipping, we are relieved this incident was quickly resolved and are thankful for the engagement of our port community and interagency team,” said Capt. Samson Stevens, Commander Coast Guard Sector Virginia. “The commonwealth’s marine transportation system is vital to the region’s success, prosperity, and economy.”

The MV Tirranna, a Large Car and Truck Carrier (LCTC), is operated by Wallenius Wilhelmsen and was built in 2009.

The incident comes as the salvage and wreck removal of the car carrier Golden Ray in St. Simons Sound, Georgia is now stretching to more than 20 months since it ran aground and partially capsized on a sand bar.

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