The following is the text of a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard:
(SAN FRANCISCO) — A unified command comprised of the U.S. Coast Guard, California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response, San Francisco Department of Emergency Management, Vortex Marine Construction and Bay Area Rapid Transit District scheduled a fuel removal from the sunken 112-foot freight barge Vengeance on Wednesday.
During fuel removal operations, the fuel remaining aboard Vengeance will be pumped into fuel containers positioned on a second work barge for disposal.
Global Diving & Salvage is expected to conduct fuel removal operations Wednesday, though the actual timing of the operation may fluctuate depending upon environmental and other conditions.
Though a discharge of fuel is not expected to occur during this transfer process, divers will secure an underwater fuel containment dome over the Vengeance fuel fill connection as a precaution to prevent any fuel from reaching the surrounding waters during the transfer. Pollution containment boom will also be available for deployment in the case of a larger pollution discharge.
Fuel will be removed from Vengeance in order to prepare the barge for removal from the sea floor at a later date. Plan development for removal of the barge from the sea floor remains in progress and could take several additional weeks once fuel removal is complete.
Mariners are requested to abide by the 1,148-foot safety zone and monitor local media channels, as the safety zone is subject to change. Marine information broadcasts to local mariners will continue while the safety zone is in effect.
Vengeance capsized April 7 south of the Bay Bridge.
