FV Nita H; Smudoski Beach, CA

Smudoski Beach, CA | 2000-May-04

Initial Notification: On Thursday, 04MAY00, the F/V Nita H ran aground on Zmudoski beach, just north of Moss Landing Harbor. Since its initial grounding, about 5000 gallons of diesel fuel have been pumped off, another 900 gallons potentially remain onboard. Two attempts to pull the vessel off the beach have failed so far, the second time the towing hawser parted. Another towing vessel is en route from Astoria, OR and due to arrive sometime Saturday, 13MAY. Towing operations should start by Sunday evening's high tide, around 2100PDT. So far, no product has been released into the water, and the vessel remains structurally intact. Plans are to tow the vessel to a shipyard in the San Fransisco Bay once freed. USCG district 11.