SAN FRANCISCO — The Coast Guard responded to a report of a grounded vessel Friday night at Sonoma Coast State Park. This position is two miles southwest of Bodega Bay, and is located within the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary.
Coast Guard Sector San Francisco watchstanders received a call via VHF-FM Channel 16 from the captain of the 58-foot commercial fishing vessel Aleutian Storm reporting that the vessel had run aground and needed assistance ungrounding. The captain also reported that all four crew aboard were uninjured and had immersion suits.
A Station Bodega Bay boat crew and an Air Station San Francisco MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew was launched to assist the crew of the vessel. Sonoma County Fire Department members and a California Highway Patrol helicopter aircrew also assisted with response efforts.
All four crew members were able to safely swim ashore after attempts to unground the vessel themselves.
The Coast Guard has established a Unified Command with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, California Department of Fish and Wildlife Office of Spill Prevention and Response, California State Parks, Sonoma County Sheriff's Department, and the vessel captain. The Coast Guard will continue to monitor the vessel for pollution concerns while lightering and salvage operations are conducted. The fuel capacity of the vessel is 3,400 gallons, and a total of 1,500 gallons of diesel is estimated to be on board.
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