Oil sheen from crab ship gone, but ropes pose hazard to sea life
COOS BAY, Ore. - A crab ship that ran aground in a coastal wildlife refuge on Wednesday no longer appears to be leaking oil but is breaking up in the pounding surf, KCBY News confirmed at the scene.
The vessel Robert Henry ran aground approximately 400 yards off Cape Arago in the Simpson Reef segment of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge.
Officials said a sheen of oil seen Thursday has dissipated, and two other fuel tanks from the ship are now on shore.
So far, no harm has come to marine life in the area as the wave pound the boat to pieces.
However, officials are concerned that ropes and other crabbing gear aboard the boat could pose an entanglement risk to marine life.
This is a developing story. Watch this website and its TV news affiliate for updates
Did anyone figure out how they ended up on the reef? Engine troubles? Steering problems.
They also have 4,000 lbs of fresh crab onboard, which if left unattended will die off.
Not a good place to have a boat at all.
Â
Crab ship??? I was expecting a craft over 200 feet long and this craft is a crab 'boat' less than 50 feet long.
Â
From where the crab boat ended up it looks as if the pilot fell asleep at the wheel and ended up in the rocks...the boat is doomed and will soon be in pieces on the beach.
Ya we don't want the sea life trying to hang themselves.