Photo: Sea Tow
Update: gCaptain is told the Ocean Spirit 1 has been reflected with the help of Sea Tow vessels.
Earlier: The U.S. Coast Guard is responding Tuesday to the grounding of the 223-foot Togo-flagged cargo ship Ocean Spirit I just off the entrance of the Charlotte Amalie Harbor East Gregory Channel in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Coast Guard marine casualty investigators are on scene investigating the cause of the grounding, there are no signs of distress or oil leaking from the vessel at this time. The East Gregory Channel entrance remains open to maritime traffic.
The Coast Guard says the crew of the Ocean Spirit I completed the sounding of the vessel’s fuel and ballast tanks while Sea Tow-St. Thomas crews conducted an underwater damage assessment of the vessel’s hull.
Meanwhile, officials are working with the master and owner of the Ocean Spirit I and a salvage company to minimize any potential environmental impact or damage to the vessel’s hull during refloating and removal operations.
Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan where initially contacted by St. Thomas Harbor pilots at approximately 5 a.m. Tuesday, who reported the incident.
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