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Contact: Jasmine Reinhardt, 805-658-5725
Ventura, Calif. – Channel Islands National Park and Marine Sanctuary is working closely with the United States Coast Guard, state, and local agencies responding to a fishing vessel that ran aground on Santa Cruz Island Thursday morning. The cause of the incident is currently under investigation.
Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach watchstanders received a report from Vessel Assist Ventura that the fishing vessel Speranza Marie, a 60-foot fishing vessel with six people aboard and carrying roughly 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel, ran aground in Chinese Harbor on Santa Cruz Island at approximately 2 a.m. on December 15.
A private fishing vessel responded to the incident and safely transferred the six crewmembers to their boat without injury and transported them to Ventura.
The vessel owner has secured a contactor and salvage planning is underway.
The Coast Guard Cutter Blacktip is en route to monitor the situation and provide a safety zone around the incident.
Responding agencies have entered into a unified command with the US Coast Guard as the lead agency. Other agencies include National Park Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response, and Santa Barbara County Fire Department.
Cleanup crews are on-scene containing and recovering the diesel fuel. Diesel fuel is considered a non-persistent oil, compared to a heavier bunker or crude oil product, in even the calmest sea conditions, as it known to lose 40% of its volume due to evaporation within 48 hours in cold weather.
No impacts have been reported/observed at this time, but crews are actively monitoring for them. Protection to natural and cultural resources remain a priority for Channel Islands National Park. Trained responders from Oiled Wildlife Care Network have been put on standby and will be activated should they be needed.
Last updated: December 15, 2022