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The U.S. Coast Guard continued to investigate why the "Chem Venus" struck the bottom of the Piscataqua River near Goat Island Ledge and then hit three moored sailboats while it was being towed out of port in the afternoon of June 29. Salvage divers on June 30 were inspecting the damage and found a 3-foot by 10-foot tear on the starboard bow. A marine classification society was also on scene to assess repairs needed and seaworthiness of the vessel. The owner of the "Chem Venus" was expected to develop a plan to repair the vessel that will be reviewed and approved by the Coast Guard, the release states. The pilot, tug operators and ship officers were tested for drug and alcohol use, as is protocol, soon after the incident, but the results wree not yet available. The Coast Guard initially believed a 7-inch diameter tow-rope 120 feet in length snapped during the incident, creating a substantial navigational hazard. The rope remains unfound, but was determined the tow-rope was actually 2 1/4 inches in diameter and 150 feet in length and much less of a navigational hazard than the 7-inch one. A team from the Army Corps of Engineers was mobilizing to complete a navigational channel survey of the area where the incident occurred. Port officials and workers are assisting the Coast Guard with the Investigation, reviewing the moorings and their locations and identifying the boats on the mooring. Report with photo and video: http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/20160630/coast-guard-continues-investigation-of-ship-accident http://wgme.com/news/local/tanker-slams-into-sailboats-moored-off-nh-coast

The "Chem Venus" was in collision with three sailboats in the afternoon of June 29, 2016, near the mouth of the Piscataqua River, near Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Kittery, Maine. At approximately 4 p.m. Coast Guard watchstanders were notified of the accident. The Coast Guard believes the tanker’s crew ran aground on a ledge near Goat Island in Portsmouth Harbor, lost control of the steering system and hit the sailboats. The tanker was being escorted by two tugboats as it rounded Henderson Point at s a sharp bend in the Piscataqua River between Goat Island and Henderson Point. All three, which were unoccupied at anchorage, were damaged, the mast of one broke, but they remained afloat. The boats were moored at the Kittery Point Yacht Club in New Castle, New Hampshire, on the south shore of the river. The Coast Guard launched two 47-foot Motor Lifeboats from Station Portsmouth Harbor and an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft from Air Station Cape Cod to provide an overflight pollution assessment. The Coast Guard took initial response actions to determine if there is any damage to the "Chem Venus", and working to contact the owners of the sailboats. Coast Guard vessel inspectors boarded the tanker and determined the ship sustained damage to its bow causing the boat to take on water. The rate of flooding was stabilized and was being monitored by the Coast Guard and the crew of the "Chem Venus". Despite the damage no pollution has been reported, and the "Chem Venus" remained safely anchored outside of the Piscataqua River. The vessel was carrying a load of used vegetable oil and a variety of other industrial chemicals. The Coast Guard Salvage Engineering Response Team has been engaged to conduct a vessel stability assessment. In addition, divers were called to conduct a survey of the damage in the early morning of June 30. Reports with photos and video: http://www.pressherald.com/2016/06/29/tanker-hits-3-moored-sailboats-in-piscataqua-river/ http://www.wmtw.com/news/oil-tanker-collides-with-sailboats-near-mouth-of-piscataqua-river/40284958