Heavy winds sink tug boat in the Columbia River
UMATILLA, Ore.-- Strong winds are likely to blame for breaking a tug boat loose from its moorings off the Oregon shores of the Columbia River over the weekend.
The boat was tied up with steel cords near a construction site along the Columbia River, about 10 miles upriver from the McNary Dam in Umatilla County.
Andy Wilson with Oregon's Department of Ecology tells Newsradio 610 KONA that crews at the site tied up the tug boat Friday, and arrived at the worksite Monday to find that it was gone.
Divers from Pasco went into the water, and located the boat on its side about 100 feet off the Oregon shoreline.
The divers confirmed that the fuel tanks, carrying an estimated 750 gallons of diesel according to the Department of Ecology, were not compromised.
A diver then went back into the water to seal up the areas around the tank to prevent it from leaking.
Meanwhile, other representatives from Ecology, along with contractors, were on the scene check for possible oil sheens, and placing oil boons as a precaution.
A helicopter also few over to check the river's surface for any traces of sheen.
"We have to bring in a crane from Vancouver to pull the boat out of the water," Wilson said. "We expect that to happen sometime Wednesday morning."
Until then, officials with Ecology will continue to monitor the site.
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