Angel Island News

A ferry servicing California’s Angel Island State Park will be converted to operate as the state’s first zero-emission, electric propulsion short-route passenger vessel beginning in 2024.Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced it is partnering with the Angel Island-Tiburon Ferry Company (Angel Island Ferry) to support the electrification of The Angel Island vessel.PG&E's Electric Vehicle (EV) Fleet Program helps medium- and heavy-duty fleet customers easily and cost-effectively install charging infrastructure via comprehensive construction support and financial incentives.

Water Emergency Transportation Authority Awards Ferry Operating Contract to Blue & Gold Fleet. At its October 6 Board of Directors meeting, the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) awarded Blue & Gold Fleet ("B&GF") a five-year contract for the operation of WETA's San Francisco Bay Ferry services. San Francisco Bay Ferry, which recently assumed operation of the Alameda/Oakland and Harbor Bay Ferries, provides daily commute and excursion service between Alameda, Oakland, San Francisco, and Harbor Bay. In early 2012, San Francisco Bay Ferry plans to launch new ferry service between South San Francisco and the East Bay and to assume operation of the City of Vallejo's Baylink ferry operating between Vallejo and San Francisco.

Bay Area members of Congress suggested that tougher safeguards might be needed on cargo ships to prevent accidents like the recent Cosco Busan spill that resulted in 58,000 gallons of heavy bunker fuel in San Francisco Bay. One possibility would be to require double-skins on fuel tanks or some sort of partial double hull on cargo ships. In response to the disastrous Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska in 1989, all oil tankers in U.S. waters must have double hulls by 2015. Another would be to make the Coast Guard's vessel transport system more stringent for ships entering and leaving ports, like the air traffic control system. Though the Cosco Busan did not have a double hull…

More than 200 people are responding to the COSCO BUSAN oil spill. Golden Gate Bridge working to recover spilled oil. A skimmer is a mechanized oil recovery system. It utilizes a belt that is made from a a material that attracts oil. 18,000 feet of boom has been placed around the Bay Area to protect the Beaches and wildlife. Two overflights were conducted this morning to evaluate the movement of the spilled oil and to assist in the directing of oil spill response vessels. Marine Spill Response Corporation (MSRC) and National Response Center (NRC) reports an estimated 58,000 gallons of bunker fuel was leaked into the San Francisco Bay yesterday with approximately 8,000 gallons recovered.

Moose Boats, an aluminum boat manufacturer, recently delivered a M2-35 fire/rescue boat to the Tiburon Fire Protection District of Tiburon, CA. The vessel is a 35.5-ft. all aluminum catamaran powered by twin Cummins 380 hp turbo diesels propelled by Hamilton HJ292 water jets. This boat can attain a top speed of over 35 knots and operates at a service speed of approximately 27 knots. The vessel is outfitted with fire-fighting and dewatering equipment as well as an 84 in. bench seat for patient care with extensive storage lockers for medical and fire-fighting supplies in the cabin. The M2-35 vessel is fully equipped to mitigate open water emergencies including: search and rescue…

The Coast Guard responded to the tugboat, Titan that was taking on water in-between Alcatraz and Angel Island. Coast Guard Group San Francisco received a phone call at 7 a.m. from the tugboat’s captain stating they were taking on water. Coast Guard Station Golden Gate, Coast Guard Station San Francisco and the Richmond Police Department responded to the vessel and began dewatering efforts. The tug was then successfully towed back to the Port of Oakland by its sister tug, Sarah. No injuries were reported.