Massive Container Ship Loses Control Near Verrazano Bridge

By BoroPark24 Staff

In an accident eerily reminiscent of what happened near the Baltimore port less than 2 weeks ago, a massive container ship lost propulsion (power to move forward) Friday night in the waters near the Verrazano Bridge.

The US Coast Guard confirmed that its Vessel Traffic Service received a report that the 89,000-ton ship lost control around 8:30 p.m. as it traversed the Kill Van Kull — the shipping lane between Staten Island and Bayonne, New Jersey.

Three tugboats that were escorting the ship got it under control and anchored it just north of the Verrazano Bridge. The Coast Guard required that the vessel’s propulsion system be certified that it had been repaired and was fully operational before allowing it to continue on its way.