Coast Guard Responds to Loss of Propulsion Incident

U.S. Coast Guard investigators and inspectors have responded and are investigating a container vessel that lost propulsion near Berth 35 in Oakland, Calif., Friday.

At approximately 8:45 a.m., the Coast Guard was notified of a container ship that lost propulsion while mooring at berth in Oakland.  The ship deployed its anchor and two tugboats assisted the ship into the pier.

The ship was not over the Bay Area Rapid Transit tubes when the anchor was deployed, but due to the proximity, the Coast Guard notified BART personnel as a precautionary measure. The cause of the vessel’s loss of propulsion remains under investigation.

Shortly after the incident, the San Fransisco Bar Pilots issued a brief statement, which said: "At approximately 8:30 a.m., a 965-foot-long container ship being navigated by a San Francisco bar pilot into the Port of Oakland lost all power. The pilot followed correct safety procedures and dropped anchor roughly 1200 feet southwest of the BART Transbay Tube. Within minutes, power was restored and the anchor was retrieved. There is no evidence that the anchor came close to the tube or made any contact with it. No injuries were sustained onboard and the ship is now safely berthed at the Port of Oakland."

The ship was not over the Bay Area Rapid Transit tubes when the anchor was deployed, but due to the proximity, the Coast Guard notified BART personnel as a precautionary measure. The cause of the vessel’s loss of propulsion remains under investigation.