Speeding ship sends waves of fear across Charleston harbor

Mediterranean Shipping Company’s large cargo ship Michigan 7 on Thursday lost control of its engines and went nearly full throttle through the Charleston harbor, prompting the closure of the Ravenel Bridge as it passed beneath.

Two people aboard received minor injuries as the ship’s wake sent fear across Charleston harbor just two months after a ship collided with a Baltimore bridge.

Harbor pilots were able to help the nearly 1,000-foot ship, which was going nearly 20 mph, pass under the Ravenel Bridge safely and eventually anchor several miles offshore. The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating, said Randy Preston, commander of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Charleston Section, during a Thursday press conference.

“Our sector command center folks immediately started coordinating with our local partners to include launching our own vessels to clear vessel traffic out of the way of the container ship and also coordination with the local police departments to ensure traffic on the Ravenel Bridge was stopped ensuring that the public was safe,” Preston said.

While the bridge sustained no known damage, the wake of the ship knocked around a small boat on the water, causing minor injuries to two people aboard, according to authorities.

Mount Pleasant and Charleston police cleared traffic, cyclists and pedestrians from the eight-laned bridge before the ship arrived. It was closed for about 10 minutes, authorities said.

The event comes about two months after the container ship Dali lost power and crashed into one of the supporting columns of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, killing six construction workers and halting most maritime traffic through the Port of Baltimore.

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