USCG, Commercial Tugs Respond to Tanker
The Coast Guard, along with commercial tug vessels, and the California Department of Fish and Game responded to a vessel, which lost propulsion on Jan. 27, just outside the Golden Gate Bridge. At 5:24 p.m., the Petroleum Oil Tank Ship Overseas Cleliamar lost power shortly after transiting under the Golden Gate Bridge while outbound from San Francisco enroute to its next port of call in Ecuador. Within ten minutes, the crew was able to drop the starboard anchor to stabilize the vessel's position, restored power and backed down under its own power. The vessel had previously discharged its cargo during its port call at Martinez and was carrying no cargo at the time of the incident.
Tank Vessel Touches Bottom, San Pablo Bay
The Coast Guard responded to a report of a tank vessel which grazed the bottom of the channel on Dec. 19. No pollution was reported or sighted by response personnel. At 5 a.m., Coast Guard Sector San Francisco received a report that the Marshall Islands-flagged Tank Vessel Cape Brasilia had touched the muddy bottom of the Pinole Shoal Channel. The 577-foot tanker immediately moved back into deeper water without incident, assisted by two tugs. The Coast Guard immediately launched vessels from Coast Guard Station Vallejo and Coast Guard Station San Francisco to search the area for signs of pollution. At first light, an HH-65 Dolphin Helicopter from Air Station San Francisco conducted a thorough overflight of San Pablo Bay, with negative sightings of pollution.
