Americas News
Crane Sent to Recover Sunken Leaking Vessel
A crane sent to lift a sunken fishing vessel is due to arrive in Penn Cove, Whidbey Island, Washington, later this afternoon according to a Washington State Department of Ecology news release.
Curt Hart, a spokesman for the agency was quoted as saying, “We know it’s leaking."
The 140-foot Deep Sea sank on May 13 and is laid on its port side in 60ft of water.
Reports say the amount of diesel fuel and other petroleum products removed from the vessel so far total 4,500 gallons, but the quantity on board at the time of the incident is unknown.
Dive crews from Global Diving & Salvage are continuing with preparations to lift the vessel, which will occur no earlier than Wednesday May 30th, and will eventually attach lifting chains from the crane to two pulling lines under the vessel.
A second crane barge, the 300-foot D.B. General with a 700-tonne lift capacity, is also reported to be heading to the West Coast site, but at present it is not known if it will be involved in the lifting operation.
A containment boom has been placed around the site and the Coast Guard has established a marine safety zone on waters within 200 yards of the Deep Sea.
There have been no reports of oiled fish, birds or mammals.
The area is rich in shellfish, and Penn Cove in particular is known for its mussels.