SEATTLE — On Friday, a unified command was established in response to a tugboat sinking in the Bremerton Marina.
The unified command consists of the Coast Guard and the Washington Department of Ecology.
Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound received an initial pollution report from the National Response Center regarding the vessel Dominion, a 130-foot tugboat, which sank around 4 p.m., Wednesday. It was reported that the tug contained an unknown amount of diesel fuel and about 200 gallons of lube oil when it sank.
Containment boom and absorbent pads were quickly placed around the vessel. Supplemental boom was deployed to collect the pollution as tides shifted. Vacuum trucks and skimmers were also deployed to collect recoverable product.
Additionally, the Coast Guard established a safety zone from the Manette Bridge, to the Bremerton Ferry Terminal, extending 200 yards off the Bremerton Marina breakwater. Non-commercial traffic is advised not to transit the area.
On Thursday, contracted divers examined the tug and sounded the tanks to observe how much product remained.
As of Friday, contractors have collected approximately 900 gallons of product. Two levels of containment boom remain in place and absorbent pads are scattered around the sunken tug.
The Coast Guard has accessed the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund to supplement operations and mitigate environmental impacts. The Washington Department of Ecology has mobilized two shoreline cleanup assessment teams (SCAT) and is also monitoring for oiled wildlife. If anyone encounters oiled wildlife, please call 1-800-22-BIRDS and leave a detailed message.
Members of the public are asked to avoid the area of the incident. Trained spill response contractors are working to clean up the pollution. Public volunteers are not needed at this time and could hinder response efforts.
A salvage plan is being developed to raise the vessel. The cause of the sinking is under investigation.
An incident website has been created and can be visited at the link below:
https://ecology.wa.gov/dominion-tug-sinking