620-foot Panamanian-flagged bulk carrier Sparna went aground in a narrow stretch of the Columbia River near Cathlamet, Washington. The Sparna is laden with 200,000 gallons of high sulfur fuel and 40,000 gallons of diesel. Two tug boats – the PJ Brix and Pacific Escort – are on scene to keep the Sparna stabilized. The Coast Guard has not closed the navigable channel of the river. The Panama-flagged Sparna is owned by Santoku Senpaku of Japan, an operator of about 120 vessels of various classes, including bulkers, container ships, ro/ros, wood-chip bulkers, reefers and chemical tankers.
