SAN FRANCISCO — A unified command has been established to respond to a fishing vessel that ran aground Friday morning in Point Reyes National Seashore.
The unified command is comprised of the U.S. Coast Guard and National Park Service with support and technical specialists from Marin County Fire, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Office of Spill Prevention and Response.
No injuries, active fuel leaks, or wildlife impacts have been reported at this time. North Beach is temporarily closed to the public to allow responders to operate safely and without interference.
The 58-foot fishing vessel Lake Bay has a maximum fuel capacity of 2,800 gallons and is reported to have approximately 1,000 gallons of diesel onboard. The unified command is coordinating with the responsible party and a contracted salvage company to safely remove all fuel from the vessel.
“Our top priorities are ensuring the safety of the first responders and the public, stabilizing the incident, and limiting environmental impacts,” said Lt. Cmdr. Carey Lewis, Coast Guard incident commander. “Responders are continuously monitoring and evaluating the site for pollution and any potential risk factors so we can approach operations with intention to minimize environmental impacts.”
The cause of the incident is under investigation.