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Tugboat being lifted after sinking offshore of Lopez Island

Vessel carried 400 gallons of diesel

By Kelton Burns News Intern

Response crews are lifting a tugboat after it sank carrying 400 gallons of diesel off the coast of Lopez Island Wednesday morning, Feb. 22. Some sheen could be seen on the water around the vessel, the Department of Ecology tweeted this morning.

Coast Guard and Ecology responders are on the scene, according to Ty Keltner of Ecology’s spills response team. Keltner said oil booms are in place to prevent the diesel from spreading. 

Global Diving and Salvage, the contractor handling the recovery, is attempting to lift the vessel out of the water by tonight, Keltner said. 

The tug, named Tulalip, was a construction tug accompanying a barge and a crane in a nearby operation.

An oil sheen covers the water's surface and surrounds the sunken vessel.
An oil sheen is seen in the water surrounding the sunken vessel. (Photo courtesy of Department of Ecology)

This story will be updated if more information becomes available.

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