Tag Archives: F/V Challenge

Fishing company to pay $400,000 penalty following 4,200 gallon fuel spill into New Bedford Harbor

In August of 2017, the Challenge, a fishing boat owned by the New Bedford company Quinn Fisheries, sunk while docked on the city’s waterfront, causing a fuel spill that spread over a mile and killed at least five ducks. The Coast Guard and the U.S. Department of Justice launched an inquiry, and found that the ship sunk when its captain failed to shut off a valve after illegally dumping bilge into the harbor and leaving the boat for the day, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court >click to read< 22:30

August 16, 2017 – Fishing vessel sinks in New Bedford Harbor >click to read<

Coast Guard makes a push to curb harbor oil spills

Coast Guard Lt. Lynn Schrayshuen along with Marine Science Technician Third Class John Northrup peered into the dark water alongside Coal Pocket Pier at the city waterfront, looking for the tell-tale rainbow sheen of an oil spill. On this recent morning, they came up pretty much empty, with the exception of a small patch of oil alongside the hull of a fishing boat, too little and too dispersed after time elapsed to make an effective sample. It is not always this good. The previous morning, Northrup said, there were three spills that he discovered. In past years, there have been spills of hundreds of gallons of oil. Sometimes the Department of Environmental Protection or the Coast Guard can trace the spills, but oftentimes not. click here to read the story 18:41

Fishing vessel sinks in New Bedford Harbor

The fishing vessel Challenge sank early Wednesday on city’s waterfront, officials said. Fire Chief Michael Gomes said the Fire Department found the 65-foot fishing vessel had sunk by its stern and was leaking diesel fuel and lube oil into the harbor when they arrived. The Fire Department was notified about 4:30 a.m. Fire officials deployed 600 feet of containment boom to contain the spill and multiple bundles of absorbent to absorb the oils once they were contained inside the booms. click here to read the story 12:50

Coast Guard oversees fuel spill cleanup in New Bedford Harborclick here to read the story 17:43

Coast Guard crew assists disabled fishing vessel 100 miles East of Chatham, Mass.

fv challengeThe Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma responded Sunday to a disabled fishing vessel 100 nautical miles East of Chatham and continued assistance through Tuesday. At 11:53 a.m. Sunday, a Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England watchstander received a distress call from a crewmember aboard the 62-foot eastern rigged trawler fishing vessel, Challenge. The crewmember reported Challenge was disabled due to engine failure approximately 100 nautical miles East of Chatham near Georges Bank with seven people and 1000 pounds of scallops aboard. At approximately 1:15 p.m. Sunday, Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma, then 170 nautical miles from Challenge, was diverted to offer assistance. The Tahoma crew arrived on scene at 2:30 p.m. Monday and rigged a tow. Link 17:57

Disabled Scalloper Rescued Off Nantucket

FV challenge
A disabled fishing vessel was brought in safely to shore early Monday by U.S. Coast Guard crews aboard the cutters Escanaba and Hammerhead. Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England Command Center in Woods Hole, Mass. received a phone call from the captain of the vessel Challenge Sunday morning, stating a line had fouled their propeller, and they were disabled and adrift 70 miles southeast of Nantucket, Mass. Read the rest here 13:11