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Floating Booms Encircle Sunken Kaisei, Divers Remove Remaining Fuel

A slight sheen of motor oil has appeared around the vessel after it sank in Oakland Estuary, prompting probes into a suspected collision

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Overview

  • The Kaisei sank on May 25 while moored in the Oakland Estuary, with the U.S. Coast Guard suspecting a strike by a large object as the cause
  • Salvage divers have confirmed two accessible fuel tanks are empty and are now targeting three remaining tanks that may hold about 400 gallons of diesel
  • A container of motor oil on board produced a visible sheen, leading the Alameda Fire Department to deploy floating booms to contain any spills
  • The U.S. Coast Guard is coordinating with Parker Diving, National Response Corporation and Power Engineering to remove all onboard oil and diesel
  • Since 2004, the 151-foot brigantine has served as a research platform for marine debris studies, including expeditions to the North Pacific Gyre