SEATTLE – The Coast Guard will issue an Administrative Order to the owner of the 40-foot sailing vessel Gwalchavad that ran aground on Sand Island, Ore., January 13 directing him to remove the vessel.
The vessel was discovered aground Thursday by personnel from Coast Guard Station Cape Disappointment, Wash. The owner of the vessel declined Coast Guard assistance and stated he would find an alternate way to remove the vessel.
An Administrative Order gives the owner 24 hours to remove the pollutants from the vessel or remove the vessel from the beach. If the owner is unable to remove the pollutants, the Coast Guard will federalize the project, remove the pollutants and dispose of them properly. There is approximately 50 gallons of fuel still onboard the sailing vessel.
“The Coast Guard is dedicated to the protection of the marine environment and responds quickly to any pollution threats to U.S. waters, no matter the size,” said Petty Officer Third Class Jeff Ramos of the Incident Management Division at Sector Portland, Ore.
