The rescue and salvage of
the 44 foot Nordic tug “ Winsome
Cap Sante Marina, after grounding and being left high and dry by the tides
was complicated by a fuel leak into the bilge.
When the vessel healed on its Port Side the fuel transferred to the
low side tank and began leaking into the bilge from a faulty connection at
the vent. Fortunately, all fuel was contained in the vessel instead of being
released into the harbor. By
following our directive to shut off bilge pumps, there was
no pollution released.
We immediately directed Global’s pollution response team to the
vessel, and they removed and contained all the spilled diesel.
Our vessels stood by until the return of the tide, when she was
gently pulled off the strand.
She proceeded to the haul out under her own power escorted by our fast
response vessel, RETRIEVER, with Capt. JR aboard the casualty to assist in
maneuvering docking and checking systems.
It was truly fortunate that the series of events was not complicated
by a fuel release into the harbor.
Professional response and available resources were the key to this
successful endeavor.