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Press Release | Sept. 26, 2025

Update: Unified Command concludes response to sunken vessel in Sinclair Inlet

Northwest District Public Affairs - (206) 815-6755

Seattle—A unified command consisting of the Coast Guard, Washington Department of Ecology, and Washington Department of Natural Resources has concluded its response to the 108-foot vessel, Cairdeas, which sank in Sinclair Inlet near Bremerton, Sept. 7.

On Saturday, responsibility for continued actions and custody of the vessel was transferred to the Washington DNR. The vessel was raised and transported to Port Townsend on Wednesday, Sept. 24.

During the response, approximately 1,200 gallons of diesel was released into the water. When raised, fewer than 15 gallons of fuel was recovered from the vessel’s tanks. Crews deployed about 1,600 feet of containment boom, employed absorbent pads, and conducted shoreline assessments to contain and mitigate impacts to the environment.

“We’d like to thank our state and local response partners for their time and dedication,” said incident management division chief, Lt. Cmdr. Sean DiGeorge. “The combined response mitigated impacts to the environment, protected wildlife and removed the threat this vessel posed to the waterway and marine transportation system.”

The Cairdeas is a 108-foot wooden hull World War II-era yacht.

 

-USCG-