Freight Ship Grounds Off Port Everglades

A Unified Command compromised of federal, state and vessel owner’s representatives are overseeing response operations to the grounding of the 600 foot bulk freight ship Federal Pescadores which was attempting to anchor outside Port Everglades, Fla.

The Panamanian-flagged vessel was carrying cement, also has approximately 588 tons of bunker oil and 105 tons of diesel fuel onboard.

Titan Maritime, LLC and its subcontractor Resolve Marine Group will focus on refloating the M/V Federal Pescadores at high tide, Sunday afternoon.

Commercial salvage engineers began removing fuel oil from the vessel’s double bottom fuel tanks at approximately 11:40 a.m. today to mitigate any pollution risks prior to refloating the vessel. The fuel oil is being transferred to MSRC Barge 452.

Currently, no signs of pollution or injuries have been reported. The Oil Spill Recovery Vessel NRC Sentinel is standing by on-scene monitoring the situation. Shore side pollution response teams and equipment are staged at environmentally sensitive sites. The Coast Guard, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) continue to monitor and assist, to protect the marine environment and ensure that operations are conducted safely.

Resources involved in this operation include:

Sector Miami Command Center

Station Fort Lauderdale response boats

Marine Casualty Investigators/Marine Vessel Inspectors

Marine Environmental Response Officers

Gulf Strike team members

Air Station Miami Aircraft NRC SENTINEL with oil skimmer

4 Tugs:

Tug RHEA

Tug JANET CATHERINE

Tug PILOT

Tug ELSBETH

MSRC Barge 452 with oil skimmer 15-man salvage and lightering team

The Coast Guard was notified at approximately 1130 p.m. Oct. 6, that Federal Pescadores reported running aground approximately one half mile offshore and one mile north of the entrance to Port Everglades, Fla.

After the vessel is refloated and moved to anchorage, Florida Marine Research Institute divers will survey the reef and assess any damage.

The incident is under investigation.