BALTIMORE - The Coast Guard is responding to a cargo ship that ran aground in the Chesapeake Bay this afternoon.
The Mediterranean Shipping Company vessel Japan, a 796-foot Panamanian flagged cargo ship, ran aground near Sandy Point Light approximately one mile north of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. The initial notification to the Coast Guard was received at about 4:15 p.m.
A Coast Guard inspection team and boarding officers from Coast Guard Sector Baltimore were deployed to the grounded vessel. Additionally, a 25-foot Coast Guard response boat crew from Station Annapolis, Md., is on scene to enforce a safety zone around the vessel.
There is no report of injuries or pollution.
Two tugs hired by the shipping company are in route to the vessel to help free it. High tide in that area will be at 9:45 p.m. and will help re-float the vessel.
The Japan was in route to Port Elizabeth, NJ.
This incident is currently under investigation.
