56-foot fishing vessel aground near Bellingham, Wash.

	Office of Public Affairs U.S. Coast Guard Thirteenth District

Press Release	Date: September 7, 2006 Contact: Lt. Cmdr. Rick Rodriguez 206-217-6002
56-FOOT FISHING VESSEL AGROUND NEAR BELLINGHAM, WASH. Photo Available
For a high resolution of image click the above photo. Official Coast Guard photo. SEATTLE - A 56-foot fishing vessel went aground this morning near Bellingham, Wash. The Lorelei II radioed Coast Guard Sector Seattle at 5:15 a.m. to report they were aground in Squalicum Harbor with six crewmembers aboard. They were transiting from Seward, Alaska, to Bellingham. A 47-foot motor lifeboat crew from Coast Guard Station Bellingham arrived on scene to assess the crew and the condition of the vessel. When the Coast Guard arrived on scene the six crewmembers were all safe in their skiff. The grounding of the Lorelei II left a one-square-foot hole on the portside hull. The Lorelei II is carrying about 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel located in two tanks. Neither fuel tank is damaged. They were also carrying approximately 25 tons of halibut. The owners of the Lorelei II have hired National Response Corp. from Seattle to stabilize the vessel and remove the fuel. Coast Guard Sector Seattle will monitor the situation and investigate the cause of the grounding.
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