Owner Successfully Recovers Grounded Boat from Von Geldern Cove

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Staff Report

A resident boat from Lakebay Marina keeled over and sank in the shallow waters of Von Geldern Cove on its way home Oct. 14. Photo: U.S. Coast Guard

A 58-foot recreational powerboat that was left aground in the rocky shallows on the north side of Von Geldern Cove—known locally as Joe’s Bay—Oct. 14 was rescued and refloated by the owner during a minus tide after midnight Nov. 9.

The recovered vessel is back in its berth at the Lakebay Marina. The Key Peninsula News could not contact the vessel owner for comment.

The Key Peninsula Fire Department water rescue crew had responded to a vessel taking on water at approximately 2:21 a.m., Oct. 14, together with rescue vessels from Anderson Island and the U.S. Coast Guard. The tide height was less than 2 feet above the charted depth at the time, though it is unclear whether the vessel ran aground or began leaking first.

Two crew members on the vessel were taken aboard the Pierce County Fire rescue vessel and returned to Lakebay Marina in Mayo Cove, a half mile to the south, where the stricken vessel was reportedly headed and is usually moored.

The state Department of Ecology responded to the scene later the same day and pumped out diesel fuel, plugged the air vents and deployed an oil containment boom surrounding the vessel to absorb oil or fuel residue.

In the following days, multiple residents of Home contacted the Department of Natural Resources to express concern about fuel or other contaminants leaking from the vessel. 

Troy Wood, program manager of the DNR Derelict Vessel Removal Program, told the KP News, “The DVRP does not have the funds to remove the vessel despite our willingness to do the removal.

“The DVRP works very hard to protect all state-owned aquatic lands, but the DVRP is out of funds until the next budget is passed next biennium (July 2019),” Wood said. “When a vessel’s situation, priority and threat make it necessary for removal and the DVRP has the funds to accomplish the removal, the DVRP must follow RCW 79.100.040 in gaining custody… It takes 30 days to gain legal custody. The DVRP cannot seize private property without due process and cannot immediately touch a vessel unless it is an imminent threat to human safety and the environment, in accordance with RCW 79.100.040(3).”

Derelict vessels can be reported to the DVRP at 360-902-1574.

The Department of Ecology encourages the public to report any spills or suspected spills of toxic material to 360-407-6300 or 800-258-5990 after 5 p.m. and on weekends.


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