Coast Guard Responds to Grounded Tank Ship

The Coast Guard is responding to a report of a 748-ft. tank ship that ran aground three miles south of Tallaboa, Puerto Rico, while en route Tallaboa, Puerto Rico, to Cartagena, Colombia. Marine inspectors and investigators from Coast Guard Resident Inspection Office Ponce, Puerto Rico, and Coast Guard Sector San Juan, Puerto Rico, are on scene with the tank ship Margara, a Cayman Islands flagged vessel reported to be carrying a cargo of 308,809 barrels of crude oil. Once there, the marine inspectors and investigators will inspect the vessel for signs of damage, determine if there has been a discharge of oil and begin an investigation to determine the causes of the accident. At this time, there are no reports or signs of pollution associated with the grounding. There are no reports of any injuries to the Margara's 28-member crew. The Coast Guard received the report of the grounding via VHF radio from the assist tug boat Rosario P. The cause of the grounding is under investigation.