USCG to Establish Security Zone for Republican Conference
The U.S. Coast Guard will establish a temporary security zone Wednesday to Friday in designated waters of the Choptank River for the Republican Issues Conference. The security zone will be in effect from 3 a.m. Wednesday until 1 p.m. Friday, which may limit or prohibit navigation by commercial and recreational waterway users. The security zone will include a 500-yard perimeter surrounding the waterfront of the Hyatt Regency Hotel on the Choptank River in Cambridge. The security zone will also impact waterway traffic under the Route 50 Bridge for various periods of time. Entering or operating in the security zone is prohibited unless authorized by the captain of the port of Coast Guard Sector Baltimore.
Operations Underway to Refloat Montrose
Operations are underway in an effort to re-float the 712-ft. Liberian flagged cargo ship Montrose currently aground in the Chesapeake Bay, west of the Choptank River. Crews under the direction of the Unified Command began the process known as lightering Sunday afternoon at approximately 3 p.m. Since then, approximately 4,800 tons of coal have been transferred from the ship to an attached barge. If weather permits, crews on-scene anticipate having the coal of the Montrose transferred to nearby barges. When the coal transfer evolution is complete, a process known as de-ballasting will begin. De-ballasting is the removal of water that was used to keep the ship stable during the lightering process. Attempts to re-float the Montrose are scheduled to begin on Tuesday, weather permitting.
Bulk Cargo Ship Aground in Chesapeake Bay
Coast Guard Sector Baltimore personnel are attempting to free a 711-ft. vessel carrying coal had gone aground while transiting the Port of Baltimore, according to the Shipping Times. Coast Guard personnel were notified at on February 28 that the Liberain flagged motor vessel Montrose had gone soft aground in the mouth of the Choptank River. The Coast Guard, along with the Moran Towing tugboats April and Hariet Lane, attempted to free the vessel during high tide but were unsuccessful. The Coast Guard is continuing to monitor the situation. So far no damage or pollution has been reported T7he 3831 grt Montrose is operated by Seaarland Shipping Management Ges.m.b.H., Austria and was built in 2002 by Sanoyas Hishino Meisho, Japan. Source: Shipping Times
