Tanker Collides with Sailboats: Coast Guard

PORTSMOUTH, NH – The Coast Guard was called to the area of the Piscataqua River on June 29, 2016, for a report of a tanker colliding into sailboats, according to an alert.

The 477-foot oil tanker – Chem Venus – reportedly struck three unmanned sailboats that were moored near the mouth of the river, between Portsmouth, and Kittery, Maine.

“No injuries or pollution have been reported,” according to a report.

The Coast Guard was informed about the incident around 4 p.m. All three sailboats, which were unoccupied at the time, were damaged but remained afloat, according to the alert.

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, according to the report, and then worked to determine the damage and contact the owners of the sailboats.

The cause of the collision is under investigation.

Coast Guard file photo by Luke Pinneo