Unsafe to Remove Fuel From Sunken Vessels – Absorbents Added to Containment Boom

On Friday, the state Department of Ecology and divers with Global Diving and Salvage Inc. determined it was unsafe to remove the fuel from two sunken vessels in Hoquiam River.

The two vessels, which were tied together, sank Wednesday in their dock near the offices of Timberland Bank, and fuel began leaking into the river. A containment boom was in place around the vessels Wednesday night.

According to Kathy Armstrong, on scene for the Department of Ecology, the divers found on Friday that one vessel, which is concrete, is leaning on top the other, making it unsafe for divers to get to the fuel.

Bringing in a crane to lift the concrete vessel would be “almost impossible” and “would cost thousands of dollars,” Armstrong said. “We just don’t have the budget for that.” Using a tug to drag the vessel off would be risky, because “we don’t know what kind of damage that would do,” if it would cause “a big, catastrophe spill.”

Instead of removing the fuel, two absorbent linings were added Friday to the containment boom already in place. Containment and the absorbents will be monitored daily and the absorbents replaced as necessary.

“This is our best option,” Armstrong said. “Whatever leaks out will hopefully get caught up in containment and in these absorbents.”

It is unclear how long it will take for the leak to subside, because it’s unknown how much fuel is left on the vessels.

Armstrong said there have been no oiled wildlife or dead fish found as a result of the spill. The Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge was checked on Friday, and there was no sign of oil out there.

Below - Global Diving and Salvage at work on the containment boom Friday.

Below - Visible sheen by Riverside Bridge on Friday.