Video: Salvors free grounded cruise ship on Lake Barkley
River cruise ship, American Jazz, freed from sand bank on reservoir on the Cumberland River in Kentucky.
Salvors, Donjon-SMIT, have freed the river cruise vessel American Jazz from a shoal on Lake Barkley in Kentucky. The salvage team and the vessel’s crew were able to free the ship at around 1520 hours local time yesterday.
According to the USCG, the salvage team carried out fuel lightering to reduce the vessel’s draft, which was instrumental in the successful re-float.
The vessel went aground on 7th July while on a seven-night cruise with 120 passengers aboard. All the passengers were removed from the ship by tender last week and the 27 crew stayed aboard to assist the salvage effort. The cause of the grounding is under investigation.
“Thanks to the amazing support of American Cruise Lines, the state of Kentucky, Trigg County Emergency Management, Donjon-SMIT and the residence of Trigg County, the American Jazz was removed today and was found fit for service on the Cumberland River,” said Cmdr. Jennifer Andrew, federal on-scene coordinator for the unified command.
