Engine explosion stalls cargo ship off Oregon, SW Washington coast

Engine explosion stalls cargo ship off Oregon, SW Washington coast
Eder Campuzano 24 Feb 2018 http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2018/02/engin...

An explosion caused by an engine malfunction stalled a cargo ship en route Longview, Washington, Thursday, the Coast Guard said in a release.

Crew members aboard the Federal Iris, a 653-foot bulk vessel, called for an emergency tow 120 miles west of the Columbia River in the Pacific Ocean after a component malfunction caused the explosion in the main diesel engine. The Denise Foss, a towing vessel stationed at Neah Bay, Washington, responded Friday.

The bulk vessel is now being towed to Seattle, a journey the Coast Guard estimates will take 48 hours to complete.

There were no injuries aboard the Federal Iris, although the explosion rendered damaged the propulsion system. The ship will head to its final destination, the Port of Changzhou in China, after it's inspected in Seattle.