A yacht that began to take on water Tuesday evening in a Key Largo canal became partially submerged, leaking gallons of diesel into the water.
On Wednesday morning, the U.S. Coast Guard, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission and Florida Department of Environmental Protection responded to the canal between Caribbean and Ocean drives to find the 55-foot motor yacht partially submerged in the water. The U.S. Coast Guard Public Affairs Office told Keys Weekly that an estimated 50 gallons of diesel leaked into the water.
Efforts to contain and clean the water are ongoing, says the U.S. Coast Guard. Working with FWC and DEP, a containment boom was deployed around the vessel and a safety zone was established to protect personnel, other vessels in the canal and the marine environment from potential hazards.
“We’re still working to contain the pollution,” a Coast Guard spokeswoman told Keys Weekly on Thursday evening.
The Coast Guard says an investigation continues into what led the yacht to take on water and leak diesel into the canal. Johnny Guzman, TowBoat US captain, told the Miami Herald that the engine block was sitting on the back deck of the yacht at the time it started turning onto its port, or left side. TowBoat US is the salvage company in charge of removing the vessel from the water.
The identity of the yacht owner wasn’t immediately known. The yacht sank in a canal that sees all sorts of boating activity from diving charters to vessels coming in for a bite to eat at places like Sharkey’s Pub and Galley and Skippers Dockside.
