The bucket of the dredger Dale Pyatt with the Oyster Bay pictured in the Background. Photo courtesy William Doyle
Photo courtesy Maritime Safety Innovation Lab
Posted on 03/23/2022 12:16:17 PM PDT by csvset
Dredging around the stuck Ever Forward kicked off over the weekened with two dredges now working to clear mud from the around the ship’s hull.
Port of Baltimore Executive Director William Doyle said dredging commenced Sunday lead by Donjon-Smit, the appointed salvor, and Cashman Dredging & Marine Construction.
AIS shows two dredges, Donjon’s Oyster Bay and Cashman’s Dale Pyatt, on scene with Ever Forward. Doyle notes that Dale Pyatt is the largest “clam shell dredge” in the Western Hemisphere, equipped with 28 cubic yard bucket. Donjon Marine Co.’s Oyster Bay is equipped with clam shell bucket that is 15 cubic yards.
The dredging is part of a salvage plan that has now been approved by the U.S. Coast Guard.
“The team is mobilizing all available local tugboats to join in the refloating operation,” Evergreen said in a March 18 update. “After sufficient mud is excavated the refloating operation will begin using both the tugboats and the power of her main engine. The rescue team will carry out the plan utilizing the most beneficial high tide period in the port area.”
No timeline has been provided for the refloating.
The 334-meter-long Ever Forward grounded Sunday, March 13, after straying from the Craigshill Channel as it departed the Port of Baltimore for Norfolk, Virginia. The ship remains grounded between buoys 16 and 14, off of Gibson Island. The cause of the grounding is unknown. The Port of Baltimore continues operating normally with ship traffic not impeded.
With the full moon having just passed, the next full moon will take place April 16 and provide the most favorable high tide conditions. However, the tidal range in the northern part of Chesapeake Bay is only about a foot at most, so whether the refloating effort will await the full moon may not make much of a difference—as it provides only about an extra inch of water.
The Ever Forward’s crew, who remain on board, continue to conduct soundings to monitor for pollution. So far no pollution has been reported and the vessel remains stable.
The bucket of the dredger Dale Pyatt with the Oyster Bay pictured in the Background. Photo courtesy William Doyle
Photo courtesy Maritime Safety Innovation Lab
In an age of excellent charts and GPS it can still be wise to engage a good pilot.
Wonder if they're going to unload the containers. They also say the full moon tide only gives an extra inch or so of water.
Also, how far is this from where the Missouri grounded?
This dredging operation looks expensive . $$$$$ Ouch !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCkDCGG7gO0&t=23s
MV Ever Forward Runs Aground in Chesapeake Bay - 14 March 2022 | What’s Going on With Shipping?
“On this episode, Sal Mercogliano - former merchant mariner and maritime historian at Campbell University - investigates the grounding of the MV Ever Forward outbound from Baltimore for Norfolk in the Chesapeake Bay and potential salvage scenarios. The ship was heading southbound when she left the channel and proceeded to ground in shallow water to the east. “
(subsequent updates...)
Sure looks like they are riding high for being laden. Maybe it’s not as simple as that, but I would think the first thing you would do would be to unload cargo to lower draft.
They had a pilot.
https://gcaptain.com/ever-forward-boarded/
The 334-meter-long Ever Forward has been stuck in the mud since Sunday night after straying from the Craighill shipping channel as it departed the Port of Baltimore for Norfolk, Virginia, with a pilot on board.
Also, how far is this from where the Missouri grounded?
By water, aprox 160-170 miles between Baltimore /Norfolk
Not a good one apparently.
The Dale Pyatt has a diesel-electric design, making for easier operation than with typical friction controls. The crane, spud winches, and walking spud all can be controlled from the operator's cab using two joysticks, enabling CASHMAN to achieve significantly higher production without increasing personnel or support equipment, and in turn reducing overall production costs. In addition to the vessel's unmatched production, CASHMAN achieved unprecedented environmental compliance with the Dale Pyatt. The dredge was the only dredge in the United States to be fully EPA Tier 4 Compliant. It also uses double-walled fuel tanks and carries enough fuel for about a month of operations.
The dredge took its maiden voyage in October 2013.
Or the high winds that night blew the ship out of the lane, like Ever Given was blown into the bank of the Suez.
Did they get the kidnapped children off? What about the nukes? The Scytl servers? Did we at least solve the dot-to-dot puzzle? /Q
Ever Forward. How ironic.
With Rising Seas about to flood the entire Continent from man made Global Warming, how is this even possible3?? Must be FAKE NEWS!!!
It was windy that day.
“can still be wise to engage a good pilot.
They had a pilot.”
Apparently not a good one.
Might not be a pilot anymore
“The cause of the grounding is unknown.”
I’m gonna guess not enough Gorebal Warning.
It is bugging me that I keep seeing “Craigshill Channel” when it should be “Craighill Channel.” Saw it in one article initially, and now it seems to be proliferating.
"FUEL CAPACITY 6,700 U.S. Gallons"
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