News Release

BALTIMORE – Unified Command responders are continuing response efforts of the Highway 50 Bay Bridge ship collision in the Chesapeake Bay Wednesday.

One Frozen Middle crewmember was recovered by a Maryland State Police boatcrew at about 2 p.m. The second missing crewman was taken into custody by the Maryland State Police.

Five people were rescued from a vehicle after it reportedly fell from the Bay Bridge. Three children and one adult were reported in good condition, one adult in serious condition.

The oil spill response organization, Oil In The Bay, has deployed 60,000 feet of containment boom from Goose Pond to Moss Pond, and in small waterways.  Approximately 500,000 more feet of boom has been ordered.

An estimated 12.6 million gallons of Mayan crude oil were originally onboard.  The amount of oil spilled in the Chesapeake Bay is currently estimated at 2.25 million gallons. The Captain Banner crew is transferring oil from the ruptured tank to an undamaged tank to minimize spillage. 

The Bay Bridge is partially opened to limited traffic on the north span, and a safety zone has been extended two miles north and eight miles south of the Bay Bridge. All ports and waterways are closed from Sandy Point to Thomas Point. 

Beach closures along the eastern shore extend from Love Point to Bloody Point and along the western shore from Sandy Point to Thomas Point. 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials have implemented hazing measures to deter wildlife from returning to affected areas. All questions concerning wildlife should be directed to Kyle Niemi, U.S. Fish and Wildlife service, at x5-6523.

The Unified Command organizations are composed of:

Coast Guard
Oil In The Bay
FBI
Maryland Police Department
National Park Service

Unified Command assets responding include:

Coast Guard HU-25 Falcon jet
Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphin helicopter
Coast Guard Auxiliary fixed wing aircraft
Coast Guard Smallboat Stations Annapolis and Curtis Bay
Coast Guard Cutter James Rankin
Maryland State Police helicopter and smallboats
National Park Service smallboats

The water currents are at nine to 12 knots. 

The original accident occurred Wednesday at 4:45 a.m., after the M/V Frozen Middle, a 712-foot Canadian-flagged coal carrier, and the M/V Captain Banner, a 995-foot Panamanian-flagged oil tanker, collided just north of the Bay Bridge. 

For more information please contact the JIC A at x6551 or check the JIC A Website at https://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/2221/515695.