The Capt. Gavin commercial fishing boat remains beached in Point Pleasant Beach after running aground early Wednesday morning.
Foul weather has prevented salvage crews from attempting to move the boat since then, though a tug boat will try to unground the 77-foot vessel on Saturday, said Chet Nesley of the Point Pleasant First Aid Squad’s dive team. On Thursday, the boat turned at high tide, and crews set up lines on the beachfront to keep it in place until it can be properly refloated.
Nesley said the U.S. Coast Guard ordered fuel pumped from the boat Thursday in order to lighten its weight in preparation for the salvage operation. About 8,000 gallons of fuel were on board, as well as bilge water and several hundred pounds of scallops.
|
The U.S. Coast Guard has not yet determined what caused the boat to run aground – a spokesman said the agency is prioritizing the salvage of the vessel as the investigation as to the cause of the accident gets underway.