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Today: Detained
Ship Ordered Back to Sea
The
Liberian-flagged container ship, the M/V Palermo Senator, was ordered to stay
in a security zone six miles offshore while the inspection continues. The
ship was directed to Berth 92 at the Port Newark/Elizabeth Marine Terminal
after a Coast Guard team boarded the vessel Tuesday. Team members heard
suspicious sounds in several of the ship's cargo holds, but they could not
determine their source. While
no evidence of stowaways was found, they determined that the ship's cargo posed
a potential risk to public safety. Officials
would not provide any details about the cargo. Capt.
Craig Bone, the Coast Guard's top official at the port, said in a statement
that the boat will remain offshore "until the condition of its cargo can
be ascertained and safely offloaded." The
FBI and Coast Guard wouldn't comment further on the investigation. |