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Ever Forward still firmly grounded after first refloat attempt fails

Starting at about noon on Tuesday, the operation to refloat the Ever Forward – stuck in the mud of Chesapeake Bay since March 13 – began, with five tugboats working to free the ship. Although they pushed and pulled for more than five hours, the vessel didn’t budge.

Winds from the northwest were pushing water out of the bay, preventing the high tide considered necessary for success.

According to the US Coast Guard, there was “no indication of movement” after the day’s efforts.
The original plan, if the first attempt didn’t work, was to do more dredging around the ship and try again to move it on April 3 or 4. The Coast Guard said yesterday though that the team will make a second attempt on Wednesday.

Kim Biggar

Kim Biggar started writing in the supply chain sector in 2000, when she joined the Canadian Association of Supply Chain & Logistics Management. In 2004/2005, she was project manager for the Government of Canada-funded Canadian Logistics Skills Committee, which led to her 13-year role as communications manager of the Canadian Supply Chain Sector Council. A longtime freelance writer, Kim has contributed to publications including The Forwarder, 3PL Americas, The Shipper Advocate and Supply Chain Canada.

Comments

  1. The first attempt is to show underwriters how difficult the job is/was, and helps to build up the value of the salvage award.
    Despite the even sea-floor, in this case, I still expect to see some boxes being removed in a lightering operation.

  2. The less than expected tide probably caused the first attempt failure. A few millimetres difference in tide can add many tons to weight that is not displaced. A foot less tide makes the job impossible.
    Mooring the tugs alongside and running their engines may wash away the mud under the ship.

  3. Its common sense to offload some containers and fuel from the blast tanks, which makes ships light to float.

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