NEAH BAY — Coast Guard crews and National Response Corporation personnel removed 50 gallons of diesel fuel Saturday from the fishing boat Black Fish, which sank at the Makah Marina in Neah Bay on Thursday night.
The 65-foot vessel discharged an unknown amount of fuel, although it had an estimated 500 gallons of diesel on board, according to the Coast Guard.
Marina staff placed a boom around the vessel shortly after it sank, which contained most of the spill.
Responders from the Coast Guard Incident Management Division in Seattle were on scene by Friday.
Besides removing fuel from the Black Fish, the responders and divers from Global Diving and Salvage sealed the vessel’s pipes and vents, swapped absorbed spill materials for fresh ones and performed underwater cleanup, according to Petty Officer 3rd Class Amanda Norcross, Coast Guard District 13 spokeswoman in Seattle.
She said there were no reports of affected wildlife or lasting environmental damage.
The boat reportedly sank because of weather conditions, Norcross said.
Winds of 40 to 50 knots produced enough spray Thursday to fill the vessel with water and sink it, she added.
Since the owner had no insurance or ability to pay for the cleanup, the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund was opened for $50,000, Coast Guard officials said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
Reporter James Casey can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jcasey@peninsuladailynews.com.
