SEATTLE — Officials with the U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Ecology and other agencies responded to a sunken fishing vessel at Lake Union Tuesday morning.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, a 91-foot crabbing vessel started to take on water near Ballard around 7:30 a.m.
The boat, named the North American, contains 32,500 gallons of fuel, according to the Coast Guard. However, the Department of Ecology reported 23,500 gallons of diesel and 400 gallons of lube oil on board.
Officials recovered most of the oil that leaked into containment booms, and so far, there have been no reports of injuries to wildlife or impacted vessel traffic. Some diesel was released into the booms Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, and officials are working to recover that fuel.
The Department of Ecology said Wednesday that a small percentage of product escaped containment from passing vessel wakes.
The North American was docked at a pier east of the Ballard Bridge on the south side of the Lake Washington Ship Canal.
Oil booms and absorbents were placed near the boat to contain any leaking fuel. Divers were also deployed to plug any vents where fuel could escape.
The process of removing the vessel from the water falls to its owner. Ecology said owners typically work with their insurance and a contractor to complete the work.
The cause of the incident is still under investigation.
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