NEAH BAY – The Coast Guard and the Neah Bay rescue tug Gladiator pumped water out of a 70-foot fishing vessel that was sinking at the Makah Marina in Neah Bay on Tuesday.
Station Neah Bay personnel reported a moderate sheen around the vessel as a result of bilge slops going overboard as water was pumped out, reported Petty Officer Tom Winter of the Coast Guard District 13 Command Center in Seattle.
Booms were placed around the oil by marina personnel.
The sheen is mostly within the boom, said Winter, and Makah response personnel are recovering the oil.
A call was received by the Coast Guard Station at Neah Nay at about 5:30 p.m. that the Kristena Rose was sinking.
The vessel had between 3,000 and 5,000 gallons of diesel on board and four to five feet of water in the engine room.
The Coast Guard had no one listed as being on board, said Winter.
A 41-foot utility boat crew from Station Neah Bay and Gladiator pumped out most of the water by about 6:30 p.m.
The flooding was caused by an open sea chest valve, said Winter.
This is a valve that allows cooling water to come into the engine.
Winter did not know the name of the vessel’s owner.
Winter did not know the cost of the actions taken, but he did say that the Coast Guard usually doesn’t seek reimbursement except in the cases of a deliberate false alarm or a criminal act.
