Coast Guard rescues five from sinking boat in Seattle

	Office of Public Affairs U.S. Coast Guard Thirteenth District

Press Release	Date: Feb. 10, 2008 Contact: Public Affairs (206)-220-7237
COAST GUARD RESCUES FIVE FROM SINKING BOAT IN SEATTLE
SEATTLE - The Coast Guard rescued five people from a sinking 50-foot pleasure boat in Elliott Bay, Wash., today. The master of the unnamed vessel contacted Coast Guard Sector Seattle on VHF channel 16 at 1:40 p.m. to request assistance after the boat started to take on water. A nearby 25-foot Coast Guard Marine Safety and Security Team (MSST) response boat crew was diverted and removed the five people from the vessel minutes later. All five aboard the vessel were transferred from the MSST vessel to a 41-foot utility boat from Coast Guard Station Seattle. The 41-foot boat crew then transported the five to shore. A Seattle Fire Department vessel also assisted by pumping water from the pleasure boat with a dewatering pump and is in the process of towing the boat to Elliott Bay Marina. No injuries were reported. Diesel fuel from the boat's bilges was released during the incident creating an unrecoverable sheen. The sheen has not caused any shoreline contamination.
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