The tall ship Oliver Hazard Perry lost power Sunday night after its two propellers became entangled with a dock line. With 12 crew onboard, the loss of power occurred at approximately 6:15 p.m. The ship was departing Bowen’s Wharf in Newport, Rhode Island.
NBC 10 News reports that the ship drifted into four boats docked in the harbor before the captain, crew, Newport Harbor Master, Oldport Marine and the U.S. Coast Guard managed to regain control of the vessel and secure the ship to the docks at Newport Harbor Hotel and Newport Yacht Club.
The incident is still under investigation, but there is good news: only minimal damage occurred, and injuries or pollution were not reported.
This video by Andrew Faigen shows the incident. (Warning: video contains explicit language.)
Oliver Hazard Perry is the largest civilian sailing training vessel in the United States, taking passengers on cruises around the world. Built with a steel hull, the three-masted, 200-foot vessel was completed in 2015 after eight years of construction.
A press release from the nonprofit organization Oliver Hazard Perry Rhode Island reports that the vessel resumed the voyage toward its permanent berth at Fort Adams, Rhode Island, assisted by a tugboat after a diver cleared the propellers and both engines were deemed operational.
The ship will undergo U.S. Coast Guard required sea trials later this week to ensure the ongoing safety of the vessel and crew in preparation for the programs scheduled for January.
