NAGS HEAD, N.C. — The Coast Guard says it’s responding to a diesel spill after a tugboat collided with an old bridge on the Outer Banks.
The Coast Guard said in a news release Sunday that the tugboat Miss Bonnie collided with the Old Bonner Bridge around 10 a.m. Monday. The replacement for the aging Bonner Bridge opened earlier this year.
Fuel is coming from the semi-submerged tug. It had struck the Old Bonner Bridge in Oregon Inlet. The replacement for the aging Bonner Bridge opened earlier this year.
The Coast Guard said about 3,000 gallons were onboard the tug at the time of the collision. The tugboat’s owners are now in the process of cleaning up the spill. There are also plans to conduct salvage operations for the boat.
The Coast Guard said there have been no reports of impacts to wildlife so far. The channel is open to all vessel traffic.
On Thursday, the Coast Guard said it is monitoring the salvage of a semi-submerged tugboat.
Those responsible contracted crews to monitor and collect the sheen.
The Coast Guard oversaw the deployment of 2,500 feet of sorbent boom and 1,600 feet of containment boom around the vessel to prevent further spillage.
"We're taking every precaution to ensure that the salvage process is as safe as it can be for all involved," said Lt. Chris Fisher, Supervisor for Coast Guard Detached Duty Nags Head, N.C. "We're also dedicated to making sure that any additional discharge of fuel is captured and collected before it can impact the environment."
The Coast Guard is working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Scientific Support Coordinator to identify the most likely trajectory of the discharged diesel to determine necessary mitigation strategies for the preventative impact to environmentally sensitive areas.
The Coast Guard said no one was injured. All eight people aboard the tugboat made it safely ashore.
The collision left the tugboat semi-submerged and leaning up against the bridge.
“Protecting the marine environment is a top priority for the Coast Guard,” said Capt. Bion Stewart, commander of Coast Guard Sector North Carolina. “We are overseeing the responsible party’s actions to mitigate environmental impacts resulting from the discharge and to remove the vessel when it is safe to do so.”
Involved in the response are:
• Coast Guard Sector North Carolina Marine Safety Detachment
• PCL Construction
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Scientific Support Coordinator
• North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
• National Parks Service
The tugboat grounded and was overwhelmed with storm surge causing it to overturn and become partially submerged near the Old Bonner Bridge.
The approved plan to salvage the boat is for the vessel to be dewatered and towed to a harbor of safe refuge where the owner can develop a tow plan.
13News Now contributed to this report.