SAN JUAN ISLANDS, Wash. – The commercial fishing boat that sank west of San Juan Island last month has been brought to the surface.
The Coast Guard says the salvage crew raised the Aleutian Isle Saturday afternoon, September 17th.
They have been pumping oily water and remaining fuel from the vessel and will move it to a more sheltered location before lifting it onto a salvage barge.
An oily sheen was visible on the water when the boat surfaced, but the Coast Guard says booms have kept pollution largely contained.
Birds, orcas and other wildlife have not been affected.
The Aleutian Isle sank suddenly on August 13th, but all crew members made it off safely.