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Sector San Francisco News

17 Mar 2024

US Coast Guard Cutter Accidentally Discharges Diesel Fuel off California

FILE PHOTO: USCGC Alder (WLB-216). (Photo: Kenneth Honore / U.S. Coast Guard)

The U.S. Coast Guard said one of its buoy tenders accidentally discharged approximately 500 gallons of diesel fuel 30 miles offshore of Fort Bragg, Calif., Friday morning.The vessel, USCGC Alder (WLB-216), was enroute to Humboldt Bay when the incident occurred, the Coast Guard said.Members of Coast Guard Sector San Francisco Incident Management Division notified interagency stakeholders and are investigating the oil spill and cause. They are also evaluating potential impacts to sensitive sites.

18 Jan 2024

Diesel and Engine Oil Removed from Sunken Tug in California

(Photo: Levi Read / U.S. Coast Guard)

Petroleum product and hazardous material have been removed from a 1940s era military tugboat that sunk in California, the U.S. Coast Guard said.A Unified Command and its contractors completed lightering efforts from the tug Mazapeta, Wednesday.The Mazapeta sunk September 4, 2023, in Little Potato Slough within the San Joaquin Delta, northwest of Stockton, with approximately 1,600 gallons of diesel and engine oil reported to be onboard at the time of the incident.Quantification of recovered product is ongoing…

24 Mar 2023

San Francisco Area Storms Wreak Havoc on Marine Navigation

(Photo: U.S. Coast Guard)

Recent storms that crossed the San Francisco Bay Area earlier this week left multiple vessels, docks, and barges adrift, causing navigational safety issues around the areaThree 60-foot deck barges were adrift, causing an allision with the 3rd Street Bridge at McCovey Cove leading to Mission Creek. U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Francisco's Prevention Department was made aware of the situation and broadcasted a Notice to Mariners, noting that the area was closed to navigation. A finalized assessment of the bridge is pending the completion of an inspection by engineers.

10 Apr 2022

Containership Loses Engine Power Off California Coast

(Photo: U.S. Coast Guard)

A Singapore-flagged containership went adrift after losing engine power off the coast of California, the U.S. Coast Guard said.The crew of the 564-foot Wan Hai 176 told Coast Guard Sector San Francisco watchstanders that the ship started drifting as the result of mechanical problems on Friday. The ship has 21 people on board, and no injuries have been reported. The Coast Guard, California Department of Fish and Wildlife Office of Spill Prevention and Response and Marin County…

17 May 2021

Fire-Stricken Containership Starts Transit to Port of Oakland

Coast Guard courtesy photo

The Unified Command, consisting of the U.S. Coast Guard, the State of California, Resolve Marine and Witt O'Briens said Sunday it was coordinating the safe transit of a containership 80 miles southwest of Big Sur to the Port of Oakland, Calif. after the ship had reported an engine fire on Friday."The NYK Delphinus crew reported a continuous decrease in the temperature of the engine room’s surrounding bulkheads Sunday morning. No signs of smoke have been observed and all decks above the engine room are now accessible and have been fully ventilated…

06 Apr 2020

USCG Oversees Disembarkation of 250,000 Cruise Ship Passengers Due to COVID-19

 A U.S. Coast Guard Station Ft. Lauderdale boat crew escorts the cruise ship Zaandam to Port Everglades April 2, 2020. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

The disembarkation of more than 1,200 passengers from the cruise ships Zaandam and Rotterdam in Port Everglades, Fla. on Friday, combined with one remaining disembarkation being coordinated, add to the U.S. Coast Guard's processing of more than 120 vessels in the last three weeks to remove 250,000 passengers from cruise ships due to the COVID-19 pandemic.The Coast Guard, under guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and working with Department of Homeland Security partners Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)…

06 Apr 2020

Containership Crewman Medevaced

A Coast Guard helicopter crew approaches the Yang Ming Unanimity containership to conduct a medevac near the San Francisco Bay in San Francisco, Calif., April 4, 2020. (U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo)

An injured crewmember aboard a Taiwanese flagged containership was medevaced approximately six miles from the San Francisco Bay, Friday evening, the U.S. Coast Guard said.San Francisco Vessel Traffic Service personnel contacted Coast Guard Sector San Francisco watchstanders, reporting a crewmember of the 1,092-foot containership Yang Ming Unanimity had fallen and struck his head on the ship’s radar mast creating a laceration on his forehead as the ship was making its way toward…

27 Dec 2019

Captain Pleads Guilty to Operating Bulker While Intoxicated

The master of a Gibraltar-flagged bulk carrier has pleaded guilty to operating a commercial cargo ship while intoxicated, announced U.S. Attorney David L. Anderson and U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port Marie Byrd.In pleading guilty, Vadim Humenyuk, of Izmail, Ukraine, admitted that he was intoxicated while serving as the 590-foot long Rainbow Quest while in San Francisco Bay and preparing to sail to South Korea. The plea was accepted by U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas S. Hixon.The investigation began on Tuesday, December 10, 2019, when a San Francisco Bar Pilot contacted Coast Guard Sector San Francisco Vessel Traffic Service personnel reporting that the captain of the Rainbow Quest appeared to be intoxicated. Investigators of the U.S.

26 Nov 2018

Ferry Allision in San Francisco

The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating the cause of a ferry allision that occurred at the San Francisco Ferry Building Friday afternoon.A crew member aboard the ferry San Francisco notified Coast Guard Sector San Francisco watchstanders of the allision around 2:40 p.m.There were reports of two minor injuries that did not require treatment beyond first aid and no reports of pollution.Photos published by the San Francisco Chronicle showed that the vessel suffered significant hull damage.The ferry's operator Golden Gate Ferry, a division of the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District, said it will operate on a normal schedule Monday. "We will cover regularly scheduled trips with other vessels in our fleet as the M.S.

13 Aug 2018

Fishing Vessel Runs Aground near Santa Cruz

The 56-foot commercial fishing vessel, Pacific Quest, is broken and beached near Seymour Marine Discovery Center in Santa Cruz, Calif., August 13. Responders are working to remove fuel from tanks on the beach during low tide. (U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo)

Responders are working to remove fuel from the tanks of a 56-foot commercial fishing vessel that ran aground near California’s Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary on Sunday.The grounded vessel, Pacific Quest, is broken up and beached near Seymour Marine Discovery Center in Santa Cruz., with a maximum potential capacity of 1,200 gallons of diesel on board, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.The captain of the fishing vessel contacted Coast Guard Sector San Francisco watchstanders at approximately 2 a.m. Sunday, reporting that his vessel ran aground with only himself and his dog aboard.

15 Sep 2016

Salvors to Remove Fuel from Capsized Riverboat

Spirit of Sacramento capsized near Bethel Island, Calif. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Adam Stanton)

Efforts to prepare the capsized riverboat Spirit of Sacramento for fuel removal operations are being conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard, California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Office of Spill Prevention and Response and other partner agencies. The 87-foot vessel reportedly began taking on water September 4, 2016, and sank near Bethel Island, Calif. Several scenarios are being developed to safely remove the pollution threat, which include righting the vessel and removing the fuel, or removing the fuel while the boat remains in its current position.

31 Jul 2015

Three Rescued on Lake Tahoe

The Coast Guard and multiple agencies rescued three people Wednesday evening after they were reported missing on Lake Tahoe. At 9:45 p.m., Coast Guard Sector San Francisco Command Center watchstanders received notification from Coast Guard Station Lake Tahoe that a 31-year-old female and her two children were missing and were last seen drifting on a raft in Meeks Bay. The Sector San Francisco Command Center issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast and launched a rescue boatcrew from Coast Guard Station Lake Tahoe. The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department, National Park Service, Care Flight and California Shock Trauma Air Rescue also responded. A CALSTAR helicopter located the three people by radar directed the rescue boatcrew from Coast Guard Station Lake Tahoe to their location.

29 Jul 2015

Four Rescued from Boat Fire in California

U.S. Coast Guard and firefighter crews helped rescue four people from a boat fire Tuesday afternoon in Alameda, Calif. Coast Guard Sector San Francisco Command Center personnel received a 911-relay report at 3:51 p.m stating an engine room fire broke out aboard a 32-foot pleasure craft near the Alameda ferry terminal in the Oakland Estuary. The Sector San Francisco Command Center issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast and dispatched a rescue boatcrew from Coast Guard Station San Francisco. Alameda Fire Department personnel also responded with a fireboat and an engine company from shore. The Coast Guard rescue boatcrew quickly arrived on scene and safely removed all four passengers from the vessel.

12 Feb 2015

Cleanup Continues at Shell Wharf

The cleanup and response operations continue for oil released at the Shell Wharf in Martinez, Wednesday. Assessments conducted throughout Wednesday continue to show no impact to the shoreline or wildlife, and no impact to the Martinez Marina or nearby marsh. Resources and personnel have been deployed to the affected area as a precaution to guard against any potential impact. Resources include absorbent boom, skimmers and a helicopter for aerial assessments, as needed. Residents may continue to notice extra activity at the wharf and the Carquinez Strait area throughout the evening as cleanup operations are conducted. "We are pleased with the progress and response to the release, both in the initial actions from Shell and the joint-agency cleanup and recovery activities," said Lt. Cmdr.

20 Jan 2015

USCG Warns of Adverse Weather in Bay Area

The Coast Guard advises exercising caution on and around the San Francisco Bay coastline and waterfronts, as excessively high tides are expected through mid-week. The National Weather Service has issued a coastal flood statement for a series of King Tides, which are expected to run through Wednesday. The conditions are expected to result in minor coastal flooding of low-lying areas along our coastline and bay fronts. Low-lying coastal locations, such as parking lots or coastal trails, may experience minor flooding during high tide. The Coast Guard encourages all marinas, vessel owners and operators and the public to prepare for and be cognizant of localized flooding.

12 Dec 2014

Winter Storm to Hit San Francisco Bay

A major winter storm is forecast for the San Francisco Bay this week. The storm is forecast to impact the entire Bay Area region, Monterey, and Lake Tahoe. Patchy fog, heavy rain, gale force winds (in excess of 34 knots) and increased wave action are expected Wednesday night, 10 December 2014 through Thursday 11 December 2014, with weather abating and showers expected on Friday 12 December 2014.... This MSIB clarifies USCG Captain of the Port expectations and provides recommended actions in preparation for heavy weather conditions forecast for the San Francisco COTP Zone. Industry partners should review the applicable portions of the San Francisco, San Pablo and Suisun Bay Harbor Safety Plan, implement heavy-weather plans and shall take due diligence to prepare for potential storm impacts.

17 Nov 2014

Containers Overboard in Oakland Estuary

Containers fell into the water from motor vessel NYK Aquarius while offloading cargo at SSA Facility Berth 57 in the Oakland estuary, causing the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and local fire department personnel to enforce a safety zone in the area. At approximately 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Coast Guard Sector San Francisco watchstanders received a report of three drifting containers in the Oakland estuary. Coast Guard Station San Francisco launched two response boatcrews to maintain a 500-yard safety zone with Alameda County Fire Department and Oakland Fire Department crews. Coast Guard crews safely escorted dinner cruise vessels to their berths in Oakland until the containers could be safely removed.

25 Oct 2014

USCG to Ensure Safety During World Series

The Coast Guard and local agencies are working to ensure the safety of boaters and baseball fans during World Series games at AT&T Park this weekend. The Coast Guard Captain of the Port has established a safety zone effective from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday through Sunday in the McCovey Cove area and waterways will be patrolled by Coast Guard, police and fire department crews. There is also a safety zone in place around fireworks barges that will be operating in the area involved in post game fireworks. "There's nothing that revs up baseball fans more than the World Series, but everyone needs to be safe and not let the excitement of the games lead to injury or unsafe practices," said Capt. Greg Stump, commander of Coast Guard Sector San Francisco.

14 Oct 2014

Ferry Strikes Piling in San Francisco

The U.S. Coast Guard said it is investigating an allision that occurred when the Ferry Peralta struck a piling at Pier 41 in San Francisco Sunday evening. The Peralta, operated by Blue and Gold Fleet, allided with a piling while backing out of the terminal at Pier 41 at approximately 5:45 p.m. Ten passengers sustained minor injuries and were taken to a hospital for evaluation. The Peralta was temporarily taken out of service, and inspectors and investigators from Coast Guard Sector San Francisco boarded the vessel. There was no structural damage to the vessel and only minor damage to the piling at Pier 41. The cause of the incident is under investigation.

13 Oct 2014

USCG Investigates Allision of Ferry Peralta

The Coast Guard is investigating an allision that occurred when the Ferry Peralta struck a piling at Pier 41 in San Francisco Sunday evening. The Peralta, operated by Blue and Gold Fleet, allided with a piling while backing out of the terminal at Pier 41 at approximately 5:45 p.m. Ten passengers sustained minor injuries and were taken to a hospital for evaluation. The Peralta was temporarily taken out of service, and inspectors and investigators from Coast Guard Sector San Francisco boarded the vessel. There was no structural damage to the vessel and only minor damage to the piling at Pier 41. The cause of the incident is under investigation.

22 Sep 2014

San Francisco Bay Fuel Spill Under Investigation

The U.S. Coast Guard and California Department of Fish and Wildlife personnel continue to respond to a fuel spill that occurred near Pier 45 at Fishman's Wharf in the San Francisco Bay Saturday. At 10:56 a.m., Saturday, Coast Guard Sector San Francisco personnel received a report that an undetermined amount of fuel oil was discharged into the water from the SS Jeremiah O'Brien. Coast Guard Incident Management Division personnel immediately dispatched a pollution response Federal On-scene Coordinator's Representative to confirm the report and assess on-scene conditions. Once on scene, the FOSCR confirmed the source of the fuel spill had been secured…

22 Sep 2014

WWll Liberty Ship Spills Oil

The Coast Guard and California Department of Fish and Wildlife personnel are investigating a fuel spill that occurred near Pier 45 at Fishman’s Wharf in the San Francisco Bay, from the functioning Liberty Ship 'SS Jeremiah O'Brien'. At approximately 10:56 a.m., Saturday, Coast Guard Sector San Francisco personnel received a report that an undetermined amount of fuel oil was discharged into the water from the SS Jeremiah O’Brien, a fully functional World War II Liberty Ship. Coast Guard Incident Management Division personnel immediately dispatched a pollution response Federal On-scene Coordinator’s Representative (FOSCR) to confirm the report and assess on-scene conditions.

21 Sep 2014

USCG Crew Rescues Three in Tomales Bay

The Coast Guard rescued three individuals from the water in Tomales Bay, Sunday morning. At approximately 8:30 a.m., Coast Guard Sector San Francisco Command Center personnel received notification that three individuals went into the water just off Lawson's Landing when their raft deflated. Watchstanders coordinated with Coast Guard Station Bodega Bay, who launched a rescue boatcrew and notified Inverness Fire Department of the incident. Sector San Francisco issued a Urgent Marine Information Broadcast for anyone in the area to assist, and launched an aircrew from Air Station San Francisco. Once on scene, the Station Bodega Bay rescue…

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