Channel Islands National Park and Marine Sanctuary is working closely with the United States Coast Guard, state, and local agencies responding to a fishing vessel that ran aground on Santa Cruz Island. The cause of the incident is currently under investigation.
Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach watchstanders received a report from Vessel Assist Ventura that the fishing vessel Speranza Marie, a 60-foot fishing vessel with six people aboard and carrying roughly 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel, ran aground in Chinese Harbor on Santa Cruz Island at approximately 2 a.m. on December 15.
A private fishing vessel responded to the incident and safely transferred the six crewmembers to their boat without injury and transported them to Ventura.
Cleanup crews are on-scene containing and recovering the diesel fuel. Diesel fuel is considered a non-persistent oil, compared to a heavier bunker or crude oil product, in even the calmest sea conditions, as it known to lose 40% of its volume due to evaporation within 48 hours in cold weather.
No impacts have been reported but crews are actively monitoring for them. Protection to natural and cultural resources remain a priority for Channel Islands National Park. Trained responders from the Office of Spill and Prevention Response have been put on standby and will be activated should they be needed.
