Tanker Allision on the Piscataqua River
The U.S. Coast Guard says it is continuing to monitor the condition of the chemical tanker Chem Venus, after it allided with three unoccupied, moored sailboats Wednesday afternoon at the mouth of the Piscataqua River near Portsmouth, N.H. and Kittery, Maine.
It was determined by Coast Guard vessel inspectors on board that the Panamanian flagged chemical tanker sustained bow damage that caused the ship to take on water. The rate of flooding has been stabilized and is being monitored by the Coast Guard and the Chem Venus crew.
Despite the damage no pollution has been reported, and the Chem Venus remains safely anchored outside of the Piscataqua River, the Coast Guard said. The vessel was carrying used vegetable oil and a variety of other industrial chemicals.
The Coast Guard Salvage Engineering Response Team has been engaged to conduct a vessel stability assessment. In addition, divers are expected to conduct a survey of the damage early Thursday morning.
The cause of the allision is under investigation.
