The small boat marina at the Port of Kalama, Washington, a well as a number of vessels moored there, suffered an estimated $5 million in damage in mid-April following passage of the 50,849-dwt container ship SM Mumbai which was moving downriver from Portland to the Pacific at a speed of better than 15 knots.
The marina is sheltered from the Columbia River by a high breakwater but the Liberian-registered vessel caused a combination wave-suction action that passed through the marina’s entrance damaging both docks and boats. The Port and the Coast Guard are investigating the incident while the port and several boat owners have filed claims with the attorney representing the vessel operator, South Korea’s SM Lines
