Bulk ship freed at last in Chesapeake Bay
The bulk ship “Montrose” was destined to safe anchorage in the Chesapeake Bay Wednesday morning after spending a week stuck aground.
The 712-foot Liberian-flagged vessel was carrying 74,215 metric tons of coal when it ran aground on Feb. 28 near Sharps Island, Md.
To lighten the vessel, about 7,100 metric tons of coal were transferred to a barge alongside on Tuesday. On Wednesday morning, the vessel’s crew began a process known as deballasting to free the vessel the rest of the way. Deballasting is the removal of water that was used to keep the ship stable during the lightering process.
The Coast Guard said divers would conduct an underwater inspection of the vessel after its arrival 12 miles south of where it ran aground.