Tug Delta Captain; Offshore of Point Sur, CA

Offshore of Point Sur, CA | 2013-Apr-13

Initial Notification: At approximately 1700 hours (local) on 13-APR-2013, the tug Delta Captain was reportedly sinking approximately 13NM off Point Sur, CA. At the time, she was towing a deck barge with a crane on board and a total of 22,000 gallons of diesel (18,000 on the tug, 4,000 on the barge). By the time a USCG helicopter was on-scene to conduct search & rescue operations, the barge, a life boat and debris was visible but no signs of pollution and no tug boat. Four survivors were rescued and taken to shore and the tug is believed sunk and possibly suspended below the barge by a 1,400 foot tow cable. Water depths in the area are approximately 400 fathoms (2,400 feet), seas are reportedly 14-16 feet and gale force winds. A second tug boat is due on-scene in the next 14 hours. USCG Sector San Francisco contacted their NOAA SSC to request a precautionary “what if” trajectory in the event there is a catastrophic release of product before tomorrow’s first light overflight.