Showing posts with label Spills program. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spills program. Show all posts

Friday, 28 June 2013

Around the Sound: Derelict vessels in spotlight

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Toxics Cleanup Program

Boats abandoned around Puget Sound and
in other Washington waterways pose significant environmental risks and possibly some big cleanup bills for taxpayers.

TVW’s “The Impact” program
took a look this week at the problems that derelict vessels can cause. The
report begins at about the 5:25 mark.

In the past two years, Ecology’s

Tuesday, 25 June 2013

Lower Granite Dam staff and nearby response agencies sharpen oil spill response skills

By Brook Beeler, communication manager, Eastern Regional Office


Photo courtesy US Army Corps of EngineersOn
Wednesday June 26 th passersby will see boats and boom in the water downstream
of Lower Granite Lock and Dam at Boyer Park and Marina on the Snake River.


It’s
part of a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) multi-agency training exercise to
practice containing and recovering oil and

Sunday, 4 November 2012

Ecology, South King, Port of Seattle, Renton and Boeing fire departments responding to burning aviation gasoline spill in Federal Way

By Curt Hart, Spills Program

The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology), South King Fire & Rescue, Port of Seattle, Renton and Boeing fire departments are responding to a 9,000-gallon aviation gasoline spill that caught fire and is still burning just off U.S. Interstate 5 in Federal Way.

All traffic lanes on I-5 are open.

The fuel spill and fire occurred after a tanker truck owned by Lee &

Wednesday, 6 June 2012

Deep Sea update: Delivered to shipyard

By Larry Altose, Ecology public information


Photo Source: Global Diving & Salvage, Inc.
The former fishing vessel Deep Sea arrived June 6, 2012 in Seattle at the Stabbert Maritime dry dock for dismantling, after passing through the Chittenden Locks, as shown in the photo.

For more information on the Deep Sea incident, please see: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/spills/incidents/FVdeepsea/

Deep Sea Update: En-route to Seattle

by Larry Altose, Ecology public information


Photo source: Global Diving and Salvage, Inc.
The Deep Sea departed Penn Cove shortly after 5 a.m. today, towed by the tug Taurus. The vessels are expected to reach Seattle by approximately early afternoon.  See Ecology's Deep Sea website for more information.

The state Department of Health re-opened the shellfish harvest areas north of Mueller Park

Tuesday, 5 June 2012

Weather permitting, Deep Sea to leave Penn Cove at 5 a.m., June 6

By Larry Altose, Ecology public information



The 140-foot fishing vessel Deep Sea, raised from the bottom of Penn Cove June 3, is ready to depart, depending on weather conditions.



Winds forecast for today could push wave heights to 4 feet, while safe towing conditions require waves under 3 feet.Tomorrow’s forecast predicts calmer conditions, and the Deep Sea’s tentative departure time is 5

Sunday, 3 June 2012

Sunken fishing vessel Deep Sea brought to surface in Penn Cove

by Larry Altose, Ecology public information

Deep Sea Incident website: www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/spills/incidents/FVdeepsea/index.html

Deep Sea vessel status

Two floating cranes raised the 140-foot sunken fishing vessel Deep Sea to the surface of Penn Cove today, Sunday June 3.

The lift capped an intensive multi-agency response to protect the area’s shellfish and other resources against damage

Deep Sea lift update #5: Floating higher as water pumped out

by Larry Altose, Ecology public information


The Deep Sea is riding higher on the water as two pumps discharge 800-1,000 gallons of water each per minute. Two floating cranes righted and lifted the former fishing vessel from the bottom of Penn Cove on Sunday, June 3, 2012.

The Deep Sea rested with a 45-degree list to the left in 60 feet of water when the cranes started pulling at about 9:30

Deep Sea lift update #4: Deep Sea has surfaced

by Larry Altose, Ecology public information


The Deep Sea reached the surface of Penn Cove at about 1:30 p.m. The vessel remains supported by two floating cranes.

Crews will pump water out of the hull. Next: inspections to determine whether the vessel can safely float for a tow to a shipyard for dismantling. 

(Photo source: Global Diving & Salvage, Inc. )

Deep Sea lift update #3: Bow and wheelhouse break surface

by Larry Altose, Ecology public information



The bow and part of the wheelhouse on the Deep Sea can now been seen above the surface of Penn Cove.

The lift resumed after divers pushed tons of silt of the Deep Sea’s deck and checked the rigging that suspends the sunken fishing vessel off the bottom of Penn Cove. The next planned stop in the lifting process will occur when the deck clears the

Deep Sea lift update #2: Deep Sea off the bottom

by Larry Altose, Ecology public information



The Deep Sea is clear of the bottom of Penn Cove, as two crane barges slowly and delicately bring the sunken fishing boat toward the surface of Penn Cove. The lift has paused so that divers can clear silt that covers the deck.

The larger crane – holding the back and center of the vessel – is sustaining a load of 260 tons. The smaller crane has

Deep Sea lift update #1: Deep Sea being set upright, lift to follow

by Larry Altose, Ecology public information



Divers and crane operators – working under contract for the Department of Ecology – have rigged the Deep Sea for righting and lifting it from the bottom of Penn Cove, near Coupeville on Whidbey Island.

Crews have verified that all connections are secure, and both cranes have taken up load. Winches on the larger of the crane barges have begun to

Saturday, 2 June 2012

Work continues to lift vessel in Penn Cove on Sunday June 3


By Curt Hart, Communications Manager, Spills Program

Work continued Saturday June 2 to raise the 140-foot fishing vessel Deep Sea from Penn Cove, near Coupeville on Whidbey Island. Operations to lift the vessel will commence Sunday June 3.

Early tomorrow morning, the 300-foot crane barge D.B. General will join the 140-foot crane barge Oakland already in Penn Cove. The two cranes, owned by

Thursday, 31 May 2012

Divers complete milestone in preparing for Deep Sea lift, expected June 3

by Larry Altose, communications manager, Northwest Regional Office

Divers reached a significant milestone today in preparing to raise the sunken fishing vessel Deep Sea from the bottom of Penn Cove, near Coupeville on Whidbey Island. They were able to insert the lifting chain under the stern section of the boat and secure it in place.

A multi-agency unified command is coordinating the recovery

Wednesday, 30 May 2012

Preparations continue for Deep Sea lift, expected June 3

By Larry Altose, Communications Manager, Northwest Regional Office

COUPEVILLE, Wash. – Divers made progress as they worked in very soft silt to prepare to raise the sunken fishing vessel Deep Sea from the bottom of Penn Cove, near Coupeville on Whidbey Island. The vessel continued to release small amounts of oil, which formed thin coatings on waters nearby.

A multi-agency unified command is

Tuesday, 29 May 2012

Deep Sea lift to begin no sooner than Sunday

By Larry Altose, news media relations, Northwest Regional Office



Contractors plan to begin raising the sunken fishing vessel Deep Sea off the bottom of Penn Cove, near Coupeville on Whidbey Island no sooner than Sunday, June 3. Divers have been preparing the vessel since Friday and will continue to do so through this week.

A multi-agency unified command is coordinating the recovery effort.

Monday, 28 May 2012

First crane barge to arrive in Penn Cove later today

By Curt Hart, Communications Manager, Spills Program


DB Oakland crane (stock photo from General Construction)

The D.B. Oakland, a 140-foot crane barge owned by General Construction Co., left Seattle early this morning and is on its way to Penn Cove to support efforts to lift the sunken fishing vessel Deep Sea.

The crane barge should arrive in Penn Cove around 5 p.m. today.

Global Diving &

Sunday, 27 May 2012

Penn Cove salvage work continues, removal operations no sooner than May 30

By Curt Hart, Communications Manager, Spills Program

Federal, state, local agencies and private contractors are continuing to work through the Memorial Day weekend to raise and remove the sunken 140-foot fishing vessel, Deep Sea that continues to slowly leak oil into Penn Cove in Island County.

A multi-agency unified command has been created to plan and carry out emergency response operations.

Saturday, 26 May 2012

Environmental protection key objective for removing sunken vessel in Penn Cove

By Curt Hart, Communications Manager, Spills Program



The 62-foot diving vessel Prudhoe Bay, moored over the Deep Sea on Friday, May 25, 2010. From this vessel, divers with Ecology’s contractor are making underwater preparations to raise the sunken craft.


Ecology and state Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), with help from other agencies and organizations, have prepared an assessment of environmental

Tuesday, 3 April 2012

Spill Log: Weekend spills prompt Olympic Pipe Line to shut down fuel line

By Curt Hart, Communications Manager, Spills ProgramThe Olympic Pipe Line Co shut down its 400-mile interstate liquid fuel pipeline system twice this past weekend after two separate fuel spills occurred at the company’s Mount Vernon control station.As we watch the oil industry change the way and type of oil that’s being moved around the nation – a good example is the proposed Keystone XL pipeline