Cape Brasilia News

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.

The tanker Cape Brasilia is escorted by a Coast Guard vessel and tug after touching the bottom of the channel in San Pablo Bay, north of the San Francisco Bay. The tanker scraped the bottom of the channel, and immediately moved back into deeper water without incident. The vessel is currently being moved to anchorage nine, where investigators will examine the vessel to ensure there is no structural damage or pollution potential. Several Coast Guard assets, including boats, and a helicopter verified that no pollution resulted from this incident. The cause of the incident is under investigation.