Port of Brunswick reopens

Port of Brunswick reopens The Port for Brunswick, Ga., reopened to deep-draft vessels Thursday afternoon, less than a day after it was closed because a ship ran aground.
   The U.S. Coast Guard closed the port following the grounding Wednesday evening until a survey could be done to make sure there was no obstruction that could damage other vessels.
   The roll-on/roll-off containership Centaurus Leader ran aground on the north side of the Brunswick River while it was transiting in-bound to the Colonels Island terminal. Shortly thereafter the vessel was refloated and safely completed its transit to the terminal.
   A survey team from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers made a depth survey Thursday morning that found no obstructions that might compromise the safety of other deep-draft ships.
   The Coast Guard said an initial damage assessment of the Centaurus Leader revealed a two-inch wide by 22-foot long gash in the hull of the ship. That affected only an empty fuel oil tank onboard the ship preventing the release of any oil into the water.
   Coast Guard officials are working with the owners of the vessel and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to prevent damage to an adjacent tank holding 140,000 gallons of heavy oil and to eliminate the potential of any oil being released into the waterway.
   Spill response equipment has been brought to the site and oil containment boom has been placed around the vessel as a preventative measure. Temporary repairs will be made once an approved formal repair plan has been submitted to the captain of the port in writing