MORRO BAY, Calif – As of 7:00 p.m. today the sailing vessel Ingolmar is stuck on a sandbar offshore of Easter Street in Morro Bay. It is reported to be carrying approximately 350 gallons of fuel.
The vessel’s owner has contracted with Patriot Environmental Services, an environmental response firm, to mitigate any potential harm in the event any of the fuel is released into the water or shoreline.
The Coast Guard and California Department of Fish and Game Office of Spill Prevention and Response have established a Unified Command to oversee the situation.
The Coast Guard received the initial report of the distressed vessel around 4 p.m. yesterday and immediately sent two 47-foot motor life boats from Station Morro Bay and an HH-65C Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Los Angeles. The crew of the rescue boats used dewatering pumps in an attempt to remove the water from the vessel. The helicopter delivered an additional pump to the crews.
The pumps could not keep up with the amount of water entering the boat, and the crew requested to be taken to land.
The vessel remained partially submerged and has drifted to its current location. Patriot Environmental Services will anchor the vessel in place tonight and due to worker safety, the fuel will be removed from the vessel tomorrow.
