Bulk carrier breaks mooring, runs aground in Bay Area

Bulk carrier breaks mooring, runs aground in Bay Area The U.S. Coast Guard Thursday said it has launched an investigation into the grounding of a 602-foot Norwegian bulk carrier Wednesday in the San Joaquin River near Suisan Bay.
      The 'Spar Lyra,' a grab-fitted bulk carrier in the Lauritzen Bulkers fleet, was fully loaded with petroleum coke when it broke free from its moorings at the Pittsburg Tesoro Refinery pier around 2 p.m. Wednesday.
   The vessel went soft aground on Brown’s Island in the New York Slough of the San Joaquin River. The Coast Guard reports that there has been no pollution and the vessel’s fuel tanks are being constantly monitored for signs of discharge. With the assistance of tugboats, the vessel was refloated later in the evening and return to berth at the refinery.
   The Coast Guard captain of the port has ordered a mandatory inspection and clearance of the vessels hull before it will be allowed to get under way.
   The exact cause of the incident is not yet known, the Coast Guard said.