Cargo Ship Ran Aground After Anchor Chain Failure, NTSB Reports

A cargo vessel ran aground in the Caribbean Sea after its anchor chain failed, causing it to drift uncontrollably, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported in its latest findings.

The incident took place on October 4, 2023, when the Bonnie G was anchored about a mile south of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, waiting for bad weather to clear.

As the vessel began drifting toward shore, the captain attempted to steer it away from land, but it ran aground. The 12 crew members on board the abandoned ship were safely rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard.

The vessel remained stuck for weeks before salvage teams refloated it and towed it to shore. No pollution or injuries were reported, but the ship was declared a total constructive loss, valued at $1.5 million.

Investigators found that the captain made errors in anchoring, which was a major cause of the grounding. Before leaving St. Croix, the weather forecast indicated winds between 10-15 knots, with …

CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE FROM MarineInsight HERE