Tugboat sinks, leaking some fuel

Tue., Jan. 24, 2006

Associated Press

SEATTLE – A 101-foot tugboat sank at its moorage off the mouth of the Duwamish River and nearly dragged down a second tug, officials said.

The cause of the sinking of the tug Island Brave was unknown, said David Zanzig, port captain for Island Tug & Barge, owner of the vessel. He said some of the more than 20,0000 gallons of diesel fuel in the tugboat’s tanks leaked before company divers sealed the fuel tanks.

The amount that escaped was undetermined but appeared to be small and was contained by booms, Coast Guard Petty Officer Kurt Fredrickson said.

Someone driving over the Spokane Street Bridge notified the company about 11 a.m. Sunday that the Island Brave and Patricia S, to which it was tied, were listing north of the bridge and east of Terminal 5. The Island Brave sank about 1:15 p.m.

A large crane on a barge was brought to pull upward on the sinking tug so the Patricia S could be cut free, Zanzig said.

Slightly more than two years ago, the Patricia S took water and slipped onto its side at the same location but was kept afloat. Another of the company’s tugs sank and was lost near Alaska about eight years ago, Zanzig said.

Island Tug has 15 tugboats and 17 barges that are used mainly to haul gravel and support construction.

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