The 667 dwt coastal freighter Tomi Elegance went ashore by strong waves caused by Typhoon Haiyan in Tacloban city, Philippines. Another unidentified freighter also went ashore next to the Tomi Elegance. The bow of the freighter sustained bow damage. Both vessels rest several hundred meters from the shoreline. No further details reported.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has launched a two month long project to remove 40 abandoned vessels in the Oakland Estuary. The bottom of the estuary if full of marine debris, sunken vessels and toxic materials. Contractors has raised the 105 foot long tugboat Captain Al near Alameda, California. The Captain Al had been sunk in the estuary for over 15 years when the tugboat was abandoned in the 1990s. Divers pumped out sediment from the Captain Al then cranes hoisted the vessel to the surface. Reports state the project will cost around 3.5 million dollars, but some of the funds were paid by from owners of the Cosco Busan. The Cosco Busan had struck the Bay Bridge in 2007 and released over 53,000 gallons of bunker oil into the bay.
The 230 dwt tanker Alvin went aground near Coron, Palawan, Philippines. The double-hulled Alvin was loaded with 256,000 liters of diesel fuel when it grounded near the Coron Pier. No reports of injuries and no pollution was released. Authorities have placed booms around the vessel as a precautionary measure. A tug has been requested to refloat the tanker.
