Ship Still Stuck

The U.S. Coast Guard hoped to approve a plan Thursday for refloating a grounded cargo ship in the Delaware River.

The 730-foot Sun, a Maltese-flagged vessel bound for a steel plant in Bucks County, ran aground just north of the mouth of the Rancocas Creek in Delanco on Tuesday afternoon. It remained stuck through several tidal cycles. The ship grounded on the New Jersey side of the channel, causing a hole in the bow, which caused two ballast tanks to flood, authorities said. Lt. Cmdr. Dave Ford, spokesman for the Coast Guard group in Philadelphia, said the best way to get the boat out had not been decided. He said punching a hole in it to get water out was one possibility. Another was unloading some cargo to help lighten the vessel.

Smaller craft were not being allowed to pass, and Ford said it was important to get the ship moved before businesses upriver suffer from not being able to get materials.

Author: 6 ABC-AP