I was informed on GORGOYPIKOOS grounding in the morning Jun 3, reporting accident details to subscribers. In the evening Jun 3 I updated the news, reporting ship’s movements after refloating and probability of damage:
Panamax bulk carrier aground, probable leak, USA
Jun 3: Bulk carrier GORGOYPIKOOS ran aground in Columbia river mouth, Oregon, at around 2230 UTC
Jun 2 while proceeding downstream in position 46 15N 123 40W. GORGOYPIKOOS is en route from Vancouver USA to Kobe Japan with cargo of grain. As of 0330 UTC Jun 3, she was in the same position, with tug and pollution protection boat at her side.
Jun 3 1330 UTC: Was refloated at around 0550 UTC, moved upstream surrounded by tugs, reached Longview and looked like she was to be berthed. Most probably, the ship sustained damages.
Later, USCG reported bulk carrier grounding and refloating:
The Coast Guard responded to a bulk carrier which ran aground on the Miller Sands Bar, east of Tongue Point, on Jun 2. The vessel was able to pull itself off the bar early morning Jun 3 at high-tide, with no injuries or pollution reported. GORGOYPIKOOS had run soft-aground, while transiting at 10 knots, due to a steering control malfunction. Columbia river bar traffic was restricted due to the stern of the vessel partially obstructing the channel. Three tugboats arrived to assist the GORGOYPIKOOS, however the vessel was able to re-float itself and continued to its original destination in Longview, Wash.
That “original destination in Longview” detail is strange – the ship was moving out to sea after completing loading in Vancouver USA, bound for Kobe Japan. After refloating, was it by ship’s own means or with tugs assistance, the ship, escorted by tugs, moved to Astoria anchorage, but wasn’t anchored as could be expected in such cases. She turned back and sailed to Longview, where she was docked and as of 0000 UTC Jun 4, was still berthed. Rather unusual for a mere soft-aground accident, when as a rule, ships resume their voyage after at most, underwater survey near grounding site.
Something doesn’t fit in.
