What Crew Members Say About Genco-Auvergne

On October 1, 2020, the bulk carrier 'Genco Auvergne' encountered a grounding incident while navigating the Columbia River. The vessel, which was sailing from Busan, found itself aground on the Washington side, specifically south of Skamokawa Vista Park, after experiencing a loss of main engine propulsion around 12:50 a.m. The Coast Guard Columbia River watchstanders quickly responded to the distress signal. In response, the tugs 'Carolyn Dorothy', 'Samantha S.', and 'Willamette' were deployed to assist in the situation. Fortunately, Captain of the 'Genco Auvergne' confirmed that there were no injuries or environmental pollution arising from the grounding. At the time of the incident, the vessel was carrying a cargo of grain and had approximately 616,644 gallons of fuel oil onboard. To ensure the safety and recovery of the vessel, a marine inspector from Sector Columbia River was sent to the scene, alongside a Columbia River Bar Pilot who was already on board to help with vessel traffic management in the area. Regular soundings were conducted to monitor the fuel-tank levels throughout the process. The Coast Guard worked closely with the vessel's agents, the monitoring class society, river pilots, the flag state, and various port partners to implement a non-tank vessel response plan. This strategy aided in minimizing the impact of the incident and facilitated the swift re-floating of the vessel. The 'Genco Auvergne' was successfully re-floated at 2:20 p.m., coinciding with high tide, and continued its journey towards Longview. By 6:30 p.m., the bulk carrier successfully berthed at the Longview Port Authority General Cargo Terminals. For more details and photos, visit: https://coastguardnews.com/coast-guard-responds-to-vessel-aground-on-columbia-river-sand-bar-2/2020/10/01/