On February 9, the 58-meter cargo vessel ENE Vision (1,809 GT) ran aground near the entrance to Luperón Bay, close to Luperón in the Dominican Republic.
The vessel was en route to Puerto Plata while towing a barge from Louisiana when it reportedly experienced engine problems. Unable to maneuver, the crew released the towing line to the barge and dropped anchor. Local vessels successfully guided the barge into the sheltered harbor of Luperón.
However, during low tide, ENE Vision grounded and was pushed by waves close to the shoreline. Several tugboats were dispatched in an attempt to refloat the vessel, but the towing line parted, leaving the ship firmly aground.
A second refloating attempt was made early on February 10 during high tide, but it was also unsuccessful.
According to local reports, the vessel sustained hull damage, including breaches in fuel tanks. A diesel fuel leak has been observed, with visible traces of pollution along the coastline.
Authorities stated that they plan to remove the towing gear from the vessel before making further salvage attempts. Local sources noted that with a draft of 4.88 meters, the vessel would likely have risked grounding even inside the bay, as the area and its access channel are considered too shallow for safe navigation by vessels of this size.
Further details regarding the extent of the damage and environmental impact are still emerging.
