4,000-Gallon Fuel-Laden Vessel Capsizes Near Green Island, Crew Rescued Safely

A commercial scallop fishing boat carrying thousands of gallons of fuel capsized near Green Island in Boston Harbor on Friday morning. This led to a multi-agency rescue and pollution control operation.

The incident happened around 7:45 am when the 86 foot fishing vessel Eileen Rita, based in New Bedford, Massachusetts, ran aground in shallow water near Green Island.

According to the US Coast Guard, a broken radio call was received from the boat, and further communication confirmed that it was stranded and in distress.

Three crew members were on board at the time. They put on immersion suits for safety after the vessel struck the ground and began tilting.

Teams and Coast Guard Stations in Boston and Point Allerton, along with the Boston Police and Fire Departments, were immediately sent to the scene.

Two Coast Guard boats and one Boston Police vessel reached the location quickly and safely rescued all three crew members. They were brought to land without any reported injuries.

Shortly after the rescue, the boat began to list more severely and tipped over onto its port side.

Officials spotted a fuel discharge in the surrounding waters. The Coast Guard reported that the vessel carried up to 4,000 gallons of diesel fuel and 50 gallons of lubricating oil.

The exact amount of the spill is still unknown, but a sheen was visible on the water near the site.

Photos shared by the Coast Guard showed the Eileen Rita partially submerged and tilted sideways, with fuel clearly trailing across the surface near Green Island, a rocky islet in the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area.

As of Friday, pollution control efforts were underway to limit the environmental damage of the spill.

The Coast Guard confirmed that they are closely coordinating with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and other state agencies.

A public affairs officer from Coast Guard Sector Boston stated that a cleanup company had been hired to respond to the spill.

Absorbent booms are being used to contain the fuel, and divers have been deployed to examine the condition of the vessel and decide how to remove it safely from the island.

The Coast Guard also advised mariners in the area to monitor VHF Channel 22A for safety and navigation updates as work continues around the grounded vessel.

An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the grounding.

Reference: USCG

Source: Maritime Shipping News