The Coast Guard Sector Charleston Command Center received a report from the Charleston Harbor Pilots dispatch at approximately 12:17 p.m. about the situation, Coast Guard Sector Charleston Deputy Cmdr. Randy Preston said.
Preston said the vessel was identified as the MSC Michigan and its pilot said the ship was stuck at nearly full throttle ahead moving at 14 to 17 knots as it was leaving North Charleston bound for Savannah.
"Our sector command center folks immediately started coordinating with our local partners to include launching our own vessels to clear vessel traffic out of the way of the container ship and also coordination with the local police departments to ensure traffic on the Ravenel Bridge was stopped ensuring that the public was safe," Preston said.
The container ship’s crew was eventually able to regain control of the ship’s engines and it cleared the harbor without incident, Coast Guard officials said. As of Wednesday afternoon, the vessel was anchored 8.5 nautical miles offshore as an investigation continues by members of the Coast Guard.
Two boaters on a different vessel were injured when their vessel was pushed onto rocks because of the cargo ship’s wake. The boaters were picked up and EMS took them to an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
It was a surreal moment for those who witnessed the cargo ship speed toward Fort Moultrie Beach.
The captain for Charleston Water Taxi, Iris Duke, shared her experience from Wednesday.
"We were doing a normal run from Waterfront Park to Charleston Maritime Center Aquarium Wharf, and we just heard chatter on the radio," Duke said.