Maritime Injury Law BlogF/V North American Sinks in Seattle
At approximately 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday May 14th, 2024, watchstanders at the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound received a call that the 91-foot F/V NORTH AMERICAN had partially sunk alongside a pier just east of the Ballard Bridge.
The Seattle Fire Department responded and installed a containment boom around the vessel to prevent pollution, while a dive team worked to plug vents and reduce the risk of further fuel discharge. A second layer of boom was deployed to minimize the chance of a fuel slick escaping. The vessel has a reported maximum capacity of 32,500 gallons of diesel. The U.S. Coast Guard has opened the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund and contracted with Global Dive and Salvage, an oil spill response organization, to manage clean-up and response operations.
The F/V NORTH AMERICA was featured in Season 4 of the reality show Deadliest Catch. The cause of the incident is under investigation.