Monterey County News

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.

The Coast Guard is warning boaters to exercise extreme caution while operating along the northern California Coast from Thursday through Friday evening as the National Weather Service has issued a high surf advisory extending from south of Sonoma County into Monterey County. It is forecasted that large swells up to the 20-foot range will create strong rip currents at most beaches, moderate to large surf at reefs and sand bars and potential sneaker waves at steeper beaches. “Boaters and beach-goers should remain vigilant, prepare for the unexpected and have proper survival and communications gear at the ready if disaster strikes,” said Capt. Greg Stump, commander of Coast Guard Sector San Francisco.