On January 26 local time, the large container ship *RUBY TOWER* ran aground north of Dauphin Island, near Mobile Port's shipping channel in Alabama, USA, prompting a temporary closure of the waterway. At the time, the vessel was conducting transoceanic freight operations and had previously called at several key Chinese ports, linking it closely to domestic shipping and foreign trade supply chains.
According to the Alabama Port Authority and multiple verified sources, the incident occurred around 11 a.m. local time on the 26th, as the *RUBY TOWER*-departing the APM Terminal under pilotage for a cargo voyage to Mexico-suffered sudden steering failure. The loss of control caused it to run aground. Port authorities immediately activated emergency protocols, closed the channel, and halted all vessel traffic to prevent further incidents.
