Coast Guard oversees fuel spill cleanup in New Bedford Harbor

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 08/16/2017 12:17 PM EDT

united states coast guard 

News Release  

Aug. 16, 2017
U.S. Coast Guard 1st District Northeast
Contact: 1st District Public Affairs
Office: (617) 223-8515
After Hours: (617) 717-9609

Coast Guard oversees fuel spill cleanup in New Bedford Harbor

Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Michael Schneider and Petty Officer 2nd Class Shannon Young oversee the fuel spill clean up efforts in New Bedford Harbor Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017. The fishing vessel Challenge sank at the pier and held about 7,000 gallons of fuel. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. Lynn Schrayshuen)  Boom and absorbent pads deployed in New Bedford Harbor, Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017. The Coast Guard and Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection were called to the scene fishing vessel Challenge sank at the pier and started discharging fuel. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. Lynn Schrayshuen)  Fishing vessel Challenge sank at the pier in New Bedford Harbor, Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017. The vessel discharged fuel causing an estimated 1.5 miles fuel spill. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. Lynn Schrayshuen)  

Editors' Note: Click on images to download high-resolution version.

BOSTON — Coast Guard crews are overseeing a fuel spill cleanup in New Bedford Harbor Wednesday after a fishing vessel sank at the pier off Hervey Tichon Ave.

The captain from the tugboat Realist called Coast Guard Sector Southeastern watchstanders around 3:50 a.m. reporting the 62- foot fishing vessel Challenge sunk at the pier and was actively discharging fuel.

Challenge carried approximately 7,000 gallons of fuel.

A crew from Marine Safety Detachment New Bedford arrived on scene, along with crews from New Bedford Fire and Police departments, and Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and double boomed the vessel. 

The fuel spill spread about 1.5 miles into Fairhaven.

The owner of Challenge hired a commercial oil recovery company to cleanup the spill.

The cause of the vessel sinking is currently under investigation.

  

-USCG-