Container Ship Aground in Columbia River

The Coast Guard responded to a 648-foot container ship aground in the Columbia River near Kalama, Wash., May 23. Sector Portland, Ore., received a call at 1:30 p.m. stating the Pacific Flores had run aground on its port bow due to a steering casualty. Station Portland, Ore., diverted a 25-ft response boat to the scene. Two tug boats are on scene and have refloated the vessel. The ship holds 600 tons of fuel, however all forward tanks have been sounded and show no sign of leaking. No injuries have been reported and the vessel will remain at anchor in Kalama until the Coast Guard and the Washington Department of Ecology have completed their investigation.