A container ship lost control of its engines and went nearly full throttle through the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina, prompting the closure of one of the busiest bridges in the state.
According to The Guardian, on June 5, harbor pilots in Charleston were able to help the 6,700 TEU container ship MSC Michigan, which was traveling at nearly 20mph, get under the Ravenel Bridge safely, and eventually anchor several miles offshore while the Coast Guard investigates, said Randy Preston, commander of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Charleston section.
Police cleared traffic, cyclists and pedestrians from the eight-lane bridge before the ship arrived, keeping it closed for 10 minutes as the ship steamed underneath, authorities said.
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The only damage was caused by the giant ship’s wake, which knocked aground a small boat and caused minor injuries to two people, Preston said.
The ship is registered in Liberia to Mediterranean Shipping Company. It was heading to Savannah, Georgia, from Charleston’s port.
