News Release

Fuel oil to be removed from grounded vessel at Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Vivens Aqua on the beach the morning of Jan. 28, 2022.

NPS photo

News Release Date: January 28, 2022

Contact: Michael Barber, 252-270-5398

MANTEO, N.C. — The U.S. Coast Guard will oversee the removal of fuel oil from a grounded vessel at Cape Hatteras National Seashore in the coming days. Efforts to tow the grounded 55-foot yacht named the Vivens Aqua back into the ocean from the beach at the south end of Ocracoke Island were unsuccessful.

Once the fuel oil is removed and the vessel becomes lighter in weight, there may be an opportunity to refloat and tow it from the beach. Cape Hatteras National Seashore will work together with U.S. Coast Guard Sector North Carolina and the owner of the vessel to consider the most appropriate removal methods after the fuel oil is removed.