UPDATE: Oil Tanker Freed from Sarah Long Bridge Allision

Published Apr 2, 2013 8:44 AM by The Maritime Executive

The 473-foot tanker Harbour Feature was successfully freed at approximately 6 p.m., Monday after alliding with the Sarah Long Bridge, on the Piscataqua River in Portsmouth, N.H.

Tug boats were able to safely tow the 473-foot, Portuguese flagged, motor vessel Harbour Feature from the bridge to the state pier during a slack tide.

There has been no pollution reported.

There have been no injuries reported.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Northern New England received a report from the Harbour Feature that it became disabled and allided with the bridge at approximately 1:30 p.m., Monday. At this time, the vessel is carrying an unknown amount of tallow oil.

The Harbour Feature crew has reported a six-to-twelve inch rupture above the waterline of the vessel near the port ballast tank. At this time there is no water entering the ship and no pollution from the ship.

Responding are members from:

- Coast Guard Station Portsmouth Harbor, N.H.
- Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Portsmouth Harbor
- Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter
- New Hampshire Marine Patrol
- Maine Department of Environmental Protection

The incident is under investigation.

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Source: http://www.uscgnews.com/