Snohomish River spill

(Information on this site is considered to be accurate at the time of posting, but is subject to change as new information becomes available.)

The Everett Parks Department and Department of Ecology responded to reports of a vessel aground and leaking fuel between Langus Park and Dagmar's Marina.

Summary information

Date of incident:  July 8, 2013
Location:

Snohomish River

Type of incident: Undetermined amount of oil, gasoline and other materials have been released on the water.
Cause of incident: Under investigation
Responsible party: Unknown
Sunken vessel in Snohomish River.

Sunken vessel in Snohomish River.

Status updates

July 9, 2013

A dive team hired by the Department of Ecology began work on the vessel earlier this morning. The diver (shown in adjacent photo wearing a blue helmet) patched a hole on the starboard side where a small fluid leak was occurring.

A fist-sized hole in the hull of the vessel was repaired. A dive team hired by the Department of Ecology used inflatable bags to re-float the partially-sunken vessel. The team will tow the vessel to a nearby marina, bring it aground and remove fuel and other hazardous materials. The vessel was reported abandoned on July 8, 2013.

July 8, 2013

The Everett Parks Department, joined later by the Department of Ecology, responded to reports of a vessel aground and leaking fuel late this morning, between Langus Park and Dagmar's Marina. Police attached a rope to the 28-foot wooden recreational vessel prior to Ecology's arrival. The boat has since refloated on a rising tide, but remains tethered to the river's eastern bank with its stern under water.

Ecology has hired an environmental response contractor to assess the boat for possible removal of fuel, engine oil and other hazardous material. The vessel has been releasing an undetermined amount of oil, gasoline and other materials, which forms a sheen - a thin coating - on the water. Ecology has not placed oil-containment boom around the vessel to contain the slick because of the fire danger involving gasoline.

Ecology is using a state oil spill contingency fund because officials cannot determine the vessel's owner, the party normally responsible for cleanup costs. The amount of fuel, oil and other materials on the boat remains unknown.

Media contact

Larry Altose, Media contact, Larry.Altose@ecy.wa.gov, 425-649-7009