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Coast Guard Tries To Free Container Ship Stranded In The Chesapeake Bay

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The Coast Guard and Maryland Department of the Environment are trying to refloat a container ship that stranded itself in the Chesapeake Bay over the weekend.

The 1,095-foot container vessel—known as the Ever Forward—ran aground about 9 p.m. Sunday in the Craighill Channel, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

It was headed from Baltimore to Norfolk, according to, Maryland-National Capital Region Sector Commander Capt. David O'Connell.

The Craighill Channel is estimated to be about 50 feet deep.

The ship was traveling outside of the channel and somehow managed to get stuck in water that was about 25 feet deep, O'Connell said.

There were no injuries, pollution, or damage to the ship, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

O'Connell said that the process of conducting interviews and collecting evidence is still ongoing.

Investigators still don't know what caused the incident, he said.

Then there's the task of towing the vessel to a safe location, he added.

"Right now, we're working with the salvor," he said. "We've asked them to submit a salvage plan to us so that's something that we will review with them."

The ship is not obstructing the navigational channel; however, vessels operating in the vicinity have been asked to conduct one-way traffic and transit at a reduced speed, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

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