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A 58-foot fishing boat ran aground at a popular Northern California beach — prompting a closure as crews worked to remove roughly 1,000 gallons of diesel from the vessel.
The Lake Bay became stranded early Friday at North Beach in Point Reyes National Seashore, according to an alert from the National Park Service (NPS).
The boat was carrying 40,000 pounds of squid at the time, Inverness resident Richard James told the Point Reyes Light, a local newspaper, citing a conversation with the vessel’s skipper.
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As crews began responding to the grounding, the park service announced the temporary closing of North Beach and North Beach Road.
No injuries, fuel leaks or impacts to wildlife were reported, the agency said.
Point Reyes National Seashore has temporarily closed North Beach after a 58-foot fishing vessel, shown above, ran aground Friday. (Point Reyes National Seashore/Instagram)
Fox News Digital reached out to the NPS for further comment and details.
The Lake Bay can hold up to 2,800 gallons of fuel. It was reported to have approximately 1,000 gallons of diesel on board, according to a press release from the U.S. Coast Guard.
Crews were coordinating with the party responsible for the vessel and a contracted salvage company to remove the fuel, the Coast Guard said.
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Capt. Jack Moran, owner of Sea Tow Cape May in New Jersey, told Fox News Digital that access and timing can pose challenges when dealing with a grounded vessel.
“The biggest thing is going to be accessibility,” Moran said, noting that crews have to contend with tides, currents and changing conditions. “Time is the enemy. You want to try and get it off there as quickly as possible.” (He is not connected to or involved with the Lake Bay fishing boat.)
The boat, shown above in both images, was carrying 40,000 pounds of squid at the time of its grounding. (Station Bodega Bay/U.S. Coast Guard; Station Golden Gate/U.S. Coast Guard)
With 40,000 pounds of squid reportedly onboard, Moran said removing the catch could present another challenge.
“Moving a product like that is challenging at a dock, let alone removing squid from a boat on a beach,” he said.
For the Coast Guard, safety and environmental concerns remained at the center of the response.
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“Our top priorities are ensuring the safety of the first responders and the public, stabilizing the incident, and limiting environmental impacts,” Lt. Cmdr. Carey Lewis, the Coast Guard incident commander, said in the release.
“Responders are continuously monitoring and evaluating the site for pollution and any potential risk factors so we can approach operations with [an] intention to minimize environmental impacts.”
“Our top priorities are ensuring the safety of the first responders and the public.”
The National Park Service asked visitors to stay away from North Beach while the closure is in effect to allow first responders to work safely.
The cause of the grounding remains under investigation, the Coast Guard said.
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Fox News Digital previously reported on another grounding in April involving a small cruise ship near Monuriki Island in Fiji, where the Tom Hanks movie “Cast Away” was filmed.
The Point Reyes National Seashore, pictured here, asked visitors to stay away from North Beach while the closure is in effect to allow first responders to work safely. (iStock)
The Blue Lagoon Cruises vessel struck a reef after worsening weather caused its anchor to drag.
A high-speed ferry arrived around dawn to assist with the evacuation, allowing all passengers and non-essential crew members to leave the stranded ship with their belongings.
Passengers were taken back to Port Denarau, where the cruise line arranged hotel accommodations and alternative activities. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew.
Jessica Mekles of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.
