Coast Guard responding to vessel aground in Columbia River

The Coast Guard is responding to a vessel aground in the vicinity of Skamokawa, Washington, after the vessel Argent Cosmos lost the use of a fuel pump and ran aground at 6:28 a.m. Thursday, USCG said in a news release.

There are no reports of pollution in the river, flooding aboard the vessel or injuries to crewmembers.

The Coast Guard was notified when the vessel began incident notifications. An aircrew aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Sector Columbia River conducted an over flight at 9 a.m. and reported no signs of pollution. A boat crew aboard a 29-foot Response Boat-Small II from Coast Guard Station Cape Disappointment is en route to the vessel with a Sector Columbia River inspections team.

The Argent Cosmos, a 557-foot Panamanian-flagged tanker is loaded with 1.63 million gallons of ethanol and 6.65 million gallons of monoethylene glycol. It also has 458,074 gallons of high-sulfur oil and 99,064 gallons of low-sulfur oil aboard. The vessel was heading outbound after finishing a port call at Longview, Washington. Two tugs are on scene to assist the vessel as the water rises with the incoming tide.

Capt. Bill Timmons, commander Coast Guard Sector Columbia River and captain of the port has placed a no-movement order on the vessel until Coast Guard inspectors ensure the safety of the environment and the crew aboard.

The Coast Guard is working with state and local partners during the incident.