UPDATE: Coast Guard responds to 205-foot vessel sinking in Richmond

RICHMOND, Calif. — Joint agency pollution response and prevention operations continue on the Tug Tiger, a decommissioned 205-foot former Navy tug, which sank while moored at the former dry dock in the Port of Richmond, Calif., December 11.

Tiger sank at the dock and crews have collected approximately 1,380 gallons of oil water mixture that has been slowly leaking from the vessel. The Lion, the Tiger’s sister ship, is still afloat and has been moved back roughly 100 feet from the Tiger as preparations begin to offload oil from it.

Modifications and other work done to the Tiger over the years have resulted in a lack of exact information about fuel and oil tanks onboard the tug. Various records show that if each tank on the tug was full it could hold up to approximately 77,000 gallons. Oil containment booms have been installed to keep any oil released from the ships within the former dry dock where it can be collected.

The Lion was stabilized and was moved away from the Tiger Thursday after naval architects determined it was safe to do so. This allowed divers, salvage experts, and pollution response crew’s better access to the sunken Tiger.

Cleanup operations for oil released from Tiger will continue and both vessels are being closely monitored. All remaining fuel onboard the Lion is now being removed to prevent a future spill.

The Unified Command responding to the cleanup efforts consists of members from the Coast Guard, California Office of Spill Prevention and Response, the Port of Richmond and the Richmond Fire Department.

Recreational traffic inbound and outbound north of Brook’s Island should travel with no wake as a safety measure for responders working on and around the water.

No wildlife impacts have been reported, but crews continue to monitor for them. Anyone seeing oiled wildlife should report it to 877-UCD-OWCN.

Past releases, factsheets and imagery are available at http://www.d11.uscgnews.com/go/doc/823/1259551/

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