UPDATE: State, federal and private response entities working to lift sunken tug

Washington State Department of Ecology

Department of Ecology News Release - November 22, 2009

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SEATTLE (Nov. 22, 2009 12:15 p.m.) — The state Department of Ecology, U.S. Coast Guard and NRC Environmental Services (NRC-ES) are actively working to raise the response tug Sea Boar that sank Saturday night at Terminal 5 in Seattle.

The NRC-ES tug had an estimated 200 gallons of diesel fuel in its tanks when it sank around 10 p.m. last night after high waves inundated the stern of the vessel. This morning, responders found the tug upright underwater near the location where it sank at Terminal 5.

Earlier this morning, responders spotted a light, unrecoverable sheen of diesel fuel on the water near the location where the Sea Boar sank. Oil containment boom and absorbent materials were placed on the surface as a precaution. All petroleum products, including diesel fuel, are environmental toxins.

Divers from Ballard Diving have conducted an underwater assessment of the tug. The fuel vents are small and state, federal and private responders do not anticipate further leaks from the tug.

NRC-ES is planning to lift to the Sea Boar out of the water with a crane barge as soon as possible today.

The Coast Guard Captain of the Port Suzanne Englebert established a safety zone in the vicinity of Terminal 5. Commercial vessel traffic in the area is not anticipated to be affected by recovery of the tug. Boaters are reminded to exercise extreme caution while navigating in adverse weather conditions

One person was on the tug when it sank Saturday night. That person was taken to Harborview Hospital and later released.

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Contacts:
Curt Hart, Department of Ecology media relations; 360-701-7401
John Hanley, U.S. Coast Guard media relations; 206-217-6002

For more information:
Spills incident page - Sea Boar Tug Sinking (11/21/09)