Refloat Plan For Grounded Ever Forward

Dredging operations are underway to refloat the Evergreen Marine containership. Namely, Ever Forward remains stranded in the Chesapeake Bay for more than a week now.

In this regard, the state and federal agencies have issued all permits for the work, said the Maryland Port Administration Executive Director, William P. Doyle.

Note that, Donjon Marine and Cashman Dredging will lead the dredging operations.

Refloat Plan

The Ever Forward’s refloat plan involves:

Dredging the bay’s muddy floor,
Releasing ballast to lighten the ship’s load,
Using tugboats and the ship’s main engine to free the vessel.

Initial estimates show that it could take 7-10 days before the 12,000 TEU Ever Forward floats again.

Look at the clam bucket swing, the Oyster Bay— Don Jon Marine, Smit. In the backdrop is the Dredge Dale Pyatt, aka the largest clam shell dredge in the Western Hemisphere—Cashman Dredging and Marine Contracting. pic.twitter.com/LhzwyAIS7r
— William Doyle (@WilliamPDoyle) March 20, 2022

Furthermore, all dredge material excavated during the work will be re-used for the beneficial use of rebuilding Poplar Island.

The massive 1,095-foot containership ran aground off Pasadena in the Chesapeake Bay after leaving the Port of Baltimore late Sunday evening (at 20:40 on March 13, EDT) for her journey to Norfolk, Virginia.

The officials have not yet determined what caused the Ever Forward to run aground.

So far, the USCG has ordered the ship’s crew to conduct soundings every four hours of all tanks, bilges, and voids. Thus, monitoring for pollution and report changes in stability, draft, or position, or signs of oil discharge.