Yacht Fuel Spill
The 72 foot long cruiser Plight went aground on the barrier reef in the North Sound, Cayman Islands. The vessel struck the reef and quickly disintegrated releasing some 1,800 gallons of diesel fuel into the ocean. Bad weather quickly stripped the vessel’s superstructure leaving only the engines and generators submerged on the reef. Reports state the master of the vessel escaped to the lifeboat while the two other crewmen on board were by local authorities. The Plight was scheduled to sail from Miami to the Australia via the Panama Canal. The master of the yacht had headed to the Cayman Islands due to the approaching bad weather. No reported injuries. Authorities have deployed environmental cleanup crews to the scene.