Large Containership Breaks Free from Mooring at Boston Terminal








MV Helsinki Bridge. Photo: MarineTraffic.com / Christian Schmarje

A large containership broke free from its mooring at the Paul W. Conley Container Terminal in Boston on Wednesday and drifted into the main shipping channel before being corraled by harbor tugs.
The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that the containership, the 1,065-foot Helsinki Bridge, broke free from its mooring Wednesday at around 12:45 a.m likely due to strong winds.
A docking pilot boarded the vessel, and along with the container ship’s crew, they were able to safely escort the vessel to Broad Sound, where it remained anchored as of Wednesday afternoon.
As many as ten port workers who were working on the ship at the time of the incident, but they were able to disembark safely and with no injuries.
No pollution has resulted from the incident.
An AIS screengrab of the Helsinki Bridge’s past track shows just far the ship drifted into the mains shipping channel before it was brought under control.






Image courtesy MarineTraffic.com

The cause of incident remains under investigation by the Coast Guard.
The Helsinki Bridge is flagged in Panama and is operated by Yang Ming on the North American East Coast Loop 2 route.
Here is a local news report on the incident:

Maritime and Crimean Shipping News






HELSINKI BRIDGE






Helsinki Bridge
Photo: wcvb.com

The 335 meter long, 96980 dwt container ship Helsinki Bridge allided with a quay at the Paul W. Conley Container Terminal in Boston, Massachusetts. The Helsinki Bridge was berthed at the terminal when strong winds caused all 12 mooring lines to snap. The container ship drifted free striking the pier and one of the terminal’s cranes. Damage to the Helsinki Bridge was minimal, but the pier sustained some damage.


Photo: wcvb.com






Published on 6 Dec 2017

SUBSCRIBE 19K
Ten workers were on the 1,065-foot container ship, known as Helsinki Bridge, at the time. They were removed safely. WBZ-TV's Bill Shield reports.

Comments