The 18 meter long towboat Katherine G capsized at Liberty Island, New York. The towboat was preparing to hoist an item off the island with its crane when it tipped and capsized to port. The three people on board were able to escape. Two were pulled from the water and taken to hospital for minor injuries.
The towboat Altro Donna sank on the Mississippi River at Marrero, Louisiana. The Altro Donna was proceeding with eight empty containers when it struck a piling while attempting to dock at Marrero. The three crew on board were able to escape as the vessel filled with water and sank. No reports of injuries. The Altro Donna had 11,500 gallons of diesel fuel when it sank. Authorities have stated there was a sheen over the sunken towboat. The Coast Guard is conducting an investigation into the incident.
The 164 foot long fishing vessel Ryou-Un Maru was sunk in the Gulf of Alaska by the Coast Guard. The fishing vessel went adrift from Hokkaido during the 2011 tsunami in Japan and floated across the Pacific Ocean. The Coast Guard determined to sink the vessel rather than to attempt to tow it to port. The Coast Guard fired shots into the vessel. The Ryou burst into flames then listed over and sank. An unknown amount of diesel fuel was released when the fishing boat sank.
Interesting Note
Just before the Coast Guard could fire the first shot, a Canadian fishing vessel claimed salvage rights to the Ryou-Un Maru. The 62 foot long fishing vessel Bernice C. attempted to tow the vessel, but failed and left the area. The Ryou-Un Maru was to be scrapped before the tsunami struck.
