BALTIMORE - The Mediterranean Shipping Company vessel Japan has re-floated after five hours of being aground in the Chesapeake Bay today.
The vessel re-floated under its own power and was assisted by two tugs and the incoming tide.
The vessel Japan, a 796-foot Panamanian flagged cargo ship, ran aground near Sandy Point Light approximately one mile north of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge this afternoon.
A Coast Guard inspection team from Coast Guard Sector Baltimore is aboard the vessel conducting safety checks to ensure the vessel is safe to transit to an anchorage in Annapolis, Md., where an inspection of the hull must be completed prior to it being released. The hull will be inspected tonight by divers once the vessel is at the anchorage. An internal survey by the crew of the Japan has been completed and no damage was found. The Japan will be assisted by two tugs to its anchorage location to ensure safe transit.
A 25-foot Coast Guard response boat crew from Station Annapolis is on scene to enforce a safety zone around the vessel.
There is no report of injuries or pollution.
The Japan was in route to Port Elizabeth, N.J.
This incident is currently under investigation
