HK wrote:
Yacht Sinks


Three people are safe after their 70 foot yacht sank off the coast of
Georgetown, SC, but their boat leaked hundreds of gallons of diesel fuel
into the water.

The ship grounded and sank near Winyah Bay Saturday morning. The three
stranded passengers radioed for help, and were taken to safety.

The Coast Guard says pollution investigators are now making an analysis
of the environmental impact. Investigators say the leak left a sheen
on the water that was visible from the air. The vessel was carrying up
to 7-hundred gallons of diesel fuel. So far, investigators say they
have not received any reports of impacted wildlife.


Mo

Motor Yacht Sinks with Three Aboard; Multi-Agency Response Underway




CHARLESTON, S.C. – Three people are safe after their 70-foot motor
yacht, Ceci, grounded and sank at the entrance of Winyah Bay, S.C., at
10:35 a.m.

Michael Rheaume, 65, of Quebec, Canada; Archie Brown, 75, of Fort
Lauderdale, Fla.; and Stephen Naimoui, 59, of Fort Lauderdale were
aboard the Ceci when they radioed for help. A nearby good Samaritan
rescued the three men at 11:15.

The three were transferred to a Coast Guard rescue boat from Station
Georgetown, S.C., at 11:26 and treated for mild exposure. The men were
transferred to Station Georgetown and are in good condition. Coast Guard
pollution responders are currently working with the vessel owner to
secure and salvage the vessel.

Coast Guard rescue crews that responded this morning observed a one-mile
long by half-mile wide sheen of diesel fuel at the entrance of Wynah
Bay. Coast Guard Sector Charleston dispatched pollution investigators
from Myrtle Beach and Charleston to make further assessments. The owner
of the vessel, Rheaume, reported to Coast Guard that the vessel had
approximately 500 - 700 gallons of diesel fuel aboard his vessel when it
sank.

Coast Guard investigators aboard a helicopter from Air Facility
Charleston observed a .10 by .10-mile sheen of fuel leading offshore of
the vessel. Both the morning and afternoon sheens are consistent with
the scientific spill analysis performed by the National Oceanographic
and Atmospheric Administration at the request of the Coast Guard.

NOAA’s model characterized the spilled diesel fuel as fairly light oil
that tends to evaporate and disperse fairly quickly. Both waves and
wind act to break up the fuel thereby minimizing the impact to
environment. None of the fuel released was able to be recovered.

Coast Guard response coordinators have not received any reports of
impacted wildlife or environmental impact, aside from the sheen. Coast
Guard expects that boaters transiting through the area might smell the
spilled diesel downwind of the vessel. Anyone who sees impacted
wildlife should contact the Coast Guard Sector Charleston Command Center
at 843-724-7616.

The entrance to Winyah Bay remains open, and there has been no impact to
vessel traffic in the area at this time. However, boaters who are
planning to transit the area should monitor VHF Channel 16 for up to
date marine broadcasts.

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources assisted in the response
and will be leading the recreational boating accident investigation.


And they weren't even offshore!