A landing craft arrives to assist the vessel. - Department of Ecology photo
Department of Ecology photo
A landing craft arrives to assist the vessel.

Quick response prevents fuel spill from grounded boat near Lopez Island


March 3, 2011 · Updated 5:14 PM 

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Hundreds of gallons of fuel have been removed from a pleasure boat grounded near Lopez Island. With the pollution threat gone, all that’s left is for the owner and salvage company to remove the boat from the beach for repair.

The hull of the 40-foot M/V "Stern Words 2" was damaged on a reef near Fisherman’s Bay the afternoon of March 2. The boat started taking on water in the engine room. The Coast Guard responded to a search-and-rescue call and helped the crew to safety.

The owner hired a contractor to plug the fuel vents last night and help stabilize the vessel. Today, the environmental contractors hired by the owner assisted the Coast Guard and Washington Department of Ecology in removing the fuel from the boat.

Those operations wrapped up shortly after 3 p.m. on March 3. No sheen or evidence of fuel spill was reported from this incident.

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