T/B CTCO 2601; Tampa Bay, Florida

Tampa Bay, Florida | 1998-Dec-15

Initial Notification: On December 14, 1998, the T/B CTCO 2601, loaded with 23,000 barrels of light lube oil, ran aground in Tampa Bay while being towed by the tug Camie Cenac. She was hard aground on a sand bottom 3 miles west of Palmetto and west of Port Manatee. She appeared to be grounded along the entire length of the hull except at the starboard forward rake. The vessel is 236 feet x 52 feet x 15.5 feet. She has five port tanks and five starboard tanks. When she grounded, each tank was loaded with 2300 barrels of lube oil and the bow and stern rakes were empty. No product leaked, but damage to the vessel has not been fully assessed. The shorelines in the area are highly sensitive and water depths are very shallow, especially to the east in Cockroach Bay where there is a preserve containing seagrass beds and mangroves. USCG district 7. Keyword: none.