OSG Tanker Cleared to Sail After Bridge Allision

Updated: December 9, 2013 (Originally published January 11, 2013)

The U.S. Coast Guard on Friday said that it has completed interviews, evidence collection, and a thorough safety inspection onboard the Overseas Reymar tanker and has cleared the vessel to sail. The 752-foot Marshall Islands-flagged tanker has been anchored in San Francisco Bay’s Anchorage 7 after alliding with tower six, also known as the “echo” tower, of the San Francisco Bay Bridge as it was heading out to sea Monday morning.

The Overseas Reymar sustained scrapes and dents to its starboard quarter above the waterline in the incident, but upon inspection the Coast Guard and representatives from the vessel’s Flag State determined that the vessel is safe to sail. The determination was based on a careful assessment of the vessel’s structural damage, and the inspection and testing of critical propulsion, auxiliary, navigation, safety, and environmental protection systems, the Coast Guard said in a statement.

The ship is expected to depart from San Francisco Bay with tug escort at approximately 10 a.m. Friday. The tanker will require repairs before returning to service.

Although evidence collection onboard the Overseas Reymar is complete, the Coast Guard says that the investigation into the incident continues along with the NTSB.

On Thursday, Coast Guard Capt. Cyndi Stowe, commander of Coast Guard Sector San Francisco, called on the Harbor Safety Committee of the San Francisco Bay Region to conduct a swift review of the Critical Maneuvering Areas (CMAs) established in the wake of the 2007 Cosco Busan incident.

Following the high-profile 2007 allision, which resulted in over 50,000 gallons of oil spilled and a prison sentence for pilot John Cota, nine CMAs were designated by the Harbor Safety Committee. In accordance with CMA guidelines, vessels 1,600 gross tons or larger should not transit a CMA if visibility is less than one-half nautical mile. Stowe asked the committee to review the CMAs with a particular focus on the Bay Bridge, which is not currently included.

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