Concern Builds Over Potential Leak From Wrecked Fishing Boat in Inlet

The fishing vessel Bay of Isle sits grounded on the Barnegat Inlet Jetty in Ocean County, N.J., May 7, 2020. The vessel was being monitored after two fishermen ran aground and were rescued by an aircrew from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, NJ. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Ensign Holden Bagnal)

The U.S. Coast Guard said late Thursday night that the condition of an overturned commercial fishing boat at the Barnegat Inlet jetty had deteriorated, raising concerns that hundreds of gallons of diesel fuel on board could begin to leak.

The Coast Guard, in a statement, said it was monitoring the grounded 53-foot fishing vessel Bay of Isle for potential pollution. Two men were hoisted from the vessel early Wednesday after the boat ran aground and began taking on water.

The fishing vessel Bay of Isle sits grounded on the Barnegat Inlet Jetty in Ocean County, N.J., May 7, 2020. The vessel was being monitored after two fishermen ran aground and were rescued by an aircrew from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, NJ. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Ensign Holden Bagnal)

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The material condition of the vessel began deteriorating in the surf after the grounding, the statement said. The vessel reportedly has approximately 500 gallons of diesel fuel onboard, creating the potential for pollution. Coast Guard personnel have been on scene to monitor the situation, but due to the location and weather conditions, “it is not safe to remove the fuel from the vessel or feasible to place containment boom at this time,” officials said.

No visible pollution has been reported prior to the release of the statement Thursday night.

The fishing vessel Bay of Isle sits grounded on the Barnegat Inlet Jetty in Ocean County, N.J., May 7, 2020. The vessel was being monitored after two fishermen ran aground and were rescued by an aircrew from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, NJ. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Ensign Holden Bagnal)

“We are closely monitoring the situation and working with the owner of the vessel, a salvage company, and state and local agencies.” said Lt. Cmdr. Fred Pugh, chief of incident management at Philadelphia-based Sector Delaware Bay, which has jurisdiction over Ocean County waters. “The protection of our waterways in the region are our foremost priority in this case.”