On 29 September 1989, "Pennsylvania" ran aground as she entered the channel during her first visit to Port Canaveral, Florida. Tugboats freed her in about two hours. A U.S. Navy investigation determined that "Pennsylvania" was properly positioned in the channel, but the channel had been silted by the recent passing of Hurricane Hugo. "Pennsylvania" had been rerouted to Port Canaveral shortly after another submarine had struck a buoy that had repositioned in the entrance channel of Kings Bay but it was thought at the time that the channel to Port Canaveral was not affected. Pennsylvania received no damage. This was a rare occasion of a warship running aground and the Commanding Officer not being disciplined. Shortly thereafter, "Pennsylvania" departed on her first strategic deterrent patrol which lasted 82 days.