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US casino boat runs aground on maiden trip

Passengers have been evacuated from a grounded casino boat off the Atlantic coast of the US state of Georgia, 13 hours after an accident.

The Escapade, making its maiden voyage with 96 passengers and 27 crew members, ran aground around midnight on Tuesday, according to the US Coast Guard and media reports.

The Coast Guard said no injuries or pollution had been reported.

The decision to evacuate came after a Coast Guard contract ship failed to pull free the Escapade using tow lines and the help of high tide around noon on Wednesday (0200 AEST Thursday). CBS Local broadcaster WTOC reported the towlines had broken.

The Escapade, a 53-metre boat, had departed the coastal city of Savannah about 7pm on Tuesday and was to have returned by 12.30am on Wednesday.

Passengers donned lifejackets and were given food and water, according to messages from passengers forwarded to WTOC.

"Everybody had been getting a little irritated from being out there overnight," said a woman whose fiance was on board the stranded ship.

The Florida-based Tradewinds Casino Cruise firm, which operated the Escapade, boasted of the maiden voyage on its Facebook page, saying "Whatever Floats Your Boat!" The "o" letters were replaced with gambling dice.