A multi-agency rescue operation successfully saved three crew members from a commercial fishing vessel that ran aground near Green Island on Friday morning. However, the incident resulted in a fuel and oil spill, prompting an ongoing environmental response.
At 7:46 a.m., Coast Guard Sector Boston watchstanders received a distress call via a broken radio transmission from the fishing vessel Eileen Rita, hailing from New Bedford, Massachusetts. After establishing contact with the captain, it was confirmed that the vessel had run aground in the vicinity of Green Island.
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Responding swiftly to the emergency, Coast Guard Stations Point Allerton and Boston, alongside the Boston Police and Fire Departments, dispatched rescue vessels. A Boston Police boat and two Coast Guard vessels successfully extracted the captain and two crew members. All three individuals were safely transported ashore without any reported injuries.
Following the rescue, Coast Guard personnel monitoring the Eileen Rita observed the vessel beginning to list and emit diesel fuel and lubricating oil into the surrounding waters. The vessel has a maximum capacity of 4,000 gallons of diesel fuel and 50 gallons of lubricating oil, though the exact amount of the discharge remains unknown.
The Coast Guard has initiated a collaborative effort with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and other state agencies to address both the grounding and the environmental impact of the spill.
“The Coast Guard is working closely with the responsible party to mitigate fuel discharge. Simultaneously, methods to safely remove the vessel from the island are being evaluated,” stated Lt. Cmdr. Alfred Betts, public affairs officer for Sector Boston. “The contracted oil recovery organization is deploying absorbent boom to mitigate the spread of spilled fuel. Contracted divers are assessing the vessel to plan a path forward.”
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The immediate priority is to contain and clean up the fuel and oil spill to minimize environmental damage. Absorbent booms are being deployed to prevent the spread of the pollutants, and divers are assessing the vessel’s condition to determine the best course of action for its removal.
Mariners operating in the vicinity of Green Island are strongly advised to monitor Sector Boston’s safety marine information broadcast on VHF Channel 22A for up-to-date navigation advisories regarding the grounded vessel and ongoing cleanup operations. The Coast Guard continues to monitor the situation and provide updates as they become available.
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