BOSTON — Coast Guard crews are continuing to monitor the tanker Chem Venus Thursday afternoon after it struck bottom near Goat Island Ledge and allided with three unmanned sailboats on the Piscataqua River near the Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Kittery, Maine border.
The Chem Venus began taking on water due to damage sustained during the grounding, which was stabilized and monitored by the ship's crew and Coast Guard responders.
Salvage divers arrived to assess the extent of the damage Thursday afternoon, and found a tear measuring 3 feet by 10 feet.
The owner of the Chem Venus is expected to develop a salvage plan which will be reviewed and approved by the Coast Guard.
The Chem Venus is currently safely anchored outside the Piscataqua River.
"We are fortunate that no one was injured and the event did not cause any pollution," said Capt. Michael Baroody, Captain of the Port, Sector Northern New England. "We are working with our port partners to determine all of the factors that contributed to the grounding, and subsequent allision with the sailing vessels."
The cause of the grounding and allision is under investigation.