USCG Removes Diesel And Engine Oil From Sunken WWII-era Military Tugboat

The U.S. Coast Guard and commercial salvors from Parker Diving and Salvage have successfully collaborated to remove petroleum products and hazardous pollutants from the sunken WWII-era military tugboat Mazapeta. A Unified Command oversaw the operation. The ship sank northwest of Stockton in Little Potato Slough in the San Joaquin Delta on September 4, 2023. It was carrying about 1,600 gallons of diesel and engine oil.

Throughout the weekend, Parker Diving and Salvage used a crane barge and dewatering pumps as part of a complete salvage operation. The crew elevated, sealed, and dewatered the Mazapeta, allowing for the extraction of approximately 26,000 gallons of oily water combination and 593 gallons of petroleum product. Furthermore, dangerous materials like batteries were removed from the ship without any issue.

The Unified Command, which included representatives from the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response, and the U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Francisco, worked together smoothly to monitor the operation.

The City of Stockton now has custody of the Mazapeta after the petroleum removal activities were finished. Intending to transport the vessel to Vallejo for ultimate disposal, the city is collaborating closely with salvage contractors to remove the vessel from the waterway. For this reason, the Coast Guard has approved a dead ship tow plan.

Before being sunk last year, the Mazapeta had been lying in Little Potato Slough for several years. It had a long service history as a Navy yard tug, dating back to its construction in 1942–1943. Concerns about pollution were raised by the ship’s sinking, which led to a collaborative effort to successfully mitigate the environmental threats and public safety posed by the submerged tugboat.

Reference: USCG

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