(BALTIMORE) — A tugboat sank after striking an object in Curtis Creek on Wednesday morning, according to the Maryland Department of the Environment and local news outlets.
Baltimore City Fire Department Marine Operations received a mayday call over VHF radio from the tugboat Gale, reporting that it had struck an object and was taking on water.
The Baltimore City Fireboat Station reported that “Fire Rescue Boat 1 and Marine 1 (acting Fire Rescue Boat 2) are responding to Curtis Creek where the tug Gale has struck an object and is sinking.”
All people on board were safely rescued by a good Samaritan vessel, according to the fire department. No injuries were reported.
The vessel contains 6,000 gallons of diesel fuel and 200 gallons of oil. There is currently no evidence of leakage, according to officials. As a proactive measure, containment booms have been deployed to protect the waterway.
Salvage plans are underway and include bringing in cranes to right the boat and divers to inspect the submerged portions of the vessel.
