American Challenger Coalition Update #18

Sept. 2, 2022

As of August 31, operations to remove the F/V American Challenger from the rocky shoreline north of Dillon Beach in Marin County have been suspended for the foreseeable future and equipment from the bluff and land-side staging areas has demobilized. Efforts over the last 18 months successfully removed 53,070 lbs of material from the vessel and all currently accessible oil pollution has been removed. With this phase of the response concluded, the Unified Command will transition to a group of coordinating agencies that will seek additional funding to address the remaining threats of pollution, marine debris, and habitat degradation to the marine environment posed by the American Challenger.

Questions can be directed to U.S. Coast Guard LT Sondrakay Kneen at: sondra-kay.d.kneen@uscg.mil or (510) 557-7104.

American Challenger Coalition Update #17

Aug. 22, 2022

UPDATE on American Challenger response: Contracted crews have successfully removed 53,070 pounds (~26.5 tons) of steel and other debris from the grounded fishing vessel via helicopter. All accessible petroleum products have also been removed from the vessel. Movement has been limited recently during pulling operations, and crews have begun the removal of pull chains and scaffolding. Demobilization is expected to continue through August.

As trustee for Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA will continue to work with involved federal and state agencies, including new partners, to identify project funding. The goal remains to address ongoing threats of pollution, marine debris, and habitat degradation to the marine environment posed by the American Challenger.

Involved agencies will continue to coordinate and respond as appropriate to pollution or wildlife concerns.

American Challenger Coalition Update #16

Aug. 1, 2022

American Challenger Update: A Unified Command continues response efforts to the 90-foot vessel that has been grounded within the rocky shoreline north of Dillon Beach in Marin County since March 5, 2021.

Salvage contractors were able to safely remove some petroleum product after pulling the vessel closer to the shoreline using cables affixed to a pulley system atop the bluff. The vessel was pulled approximately 50 feet with the apparatus.

Salvage plans had included dismantling the vessel, but the steel-hulled craft was not able to traverse several rocks after weeks of attempted pulling at pressures up to 300 tons.

Operations are ongoing to lighten the ship and access the remaining fuel tanks that haven’t been assessed yet. Approximately 4 tons of steel debris has been removed from the vessel including the anchor, anchor chain, anchor winch, and miscellaneous steel and cables. This debris was taken to a transfer site and will be disposed of by the U.S. EPA.

Operations will continue over the coming days as weather conditions allow.

American Challenger Coalition Update #15

7/16/22

UPDATE on American Challenger response: The joint agency Unified Command leading response efforts to the 90-foot fishing vessel that grounded on rocks in Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary in March 2021 is overseeing efforts to pull the vessel to shore where it can safely be removed.
Since pull operations began on July 9, the vessel has pivoted several feet from its original location and is also sitting more upright than previously observed.
Additional tactics are being implemented to facilitate further shoreward movement. As a precaution, boom remains staged nearby in case of a significant discharge.
Only an unrecoverable light sheen was observed near the vessel, which dissipated from being exposed to the weather and sea conditions. Crews assessed the area and no shoreline impacts were observed.
Wildlife observers continue to monitor for impacts during helicopter operations.

American Challenger Coalition Update #14

April 29, 2022

Recent storms have severely degraded the integrity of the vessel, damaging safety equipment recently installed in preparation for the vessel salvage operations. A unrecoverable sheen approximately 75-feet long was observed near the vessel this week during an overflight, but no impacted wildlife observed by wildlife observers on-site.
With continued changes to the vessel’s position and integrity, new plans are being developed for the destruction and removal. Before approving any plan, the Unified Command will evaluate the ability to continue safe operations and potential environmental impacts. Wildlife observers will remain on-site during operations.

American Challenger Coalition Update #13

March 29, 2022

A helicopter lifted out large bags of debris collected near the American Challenger this past week, as operational planning to remove the grounded 90-foot vessel continues. The debris removal project was funded by the U.S. EPA and CDFW-OSPR and items collected along the shoreline included a compressed gas cylinder.

The multi-agency Unified Command leading response efforts plans to execute the destruction plan in several phases, all pending environmental review. Work to prepare the vessel for safe boarding operations could begin as early as next week, depending on weather and ocean conditions.

American Challenger Coalition Update #12

March 11, 2022

The Unified Command overseeing response efforts to the American Challenger coordinated a safe boarding operation this week to assess the vessel’s current condition as part of a working plan for its removal and destruction. The joint agency command that includes the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Marin County, and Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary continues to respond to the 90-foot vessel that has been grounded within the rocky shoreline north of Dillon Beach in Marin County since March 5, 2021.

This week’s on-water assessment was made possible by weak tides and weather conditions. A shoreline cleanup operation is set for next week, as the U.S. EPA has secured funding to pick up hazardous materials and other debris identified on the shoreline near the vessel.

American Challenger Coalition Update #11

Jan. 6, 2022

The Unified Command overseeing response efforts for American Challenger, the 90-foot vessel that grounded on rocks north of Dillon Beach on March 6, 2021, has learned that removal/destruction plans have been approved by the U.S. Coast Guard Commandant.
 
The joint-agency command continues to assess the vessel, along with weather and sea conditions, to determine when operations can safely commence.
 
The Unified Command includes representatives from Coast Guard, California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Marin County, and the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, where the vessel grounded. 

Unified Command Press Release – Update #10

July 1, 2021

Unified Command officials from the Marin County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) announced the American Challenger, a 90-foot vessel which grounded March 6 near Bodega Bay in the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, will be removed. The Unified Command is committed to successfully removing the threat of pollution by safely and effectively refloating and relocating the vessel to Lind Marine in Vallejo, Calif., where it can be disposed of properly.

Planning work is slated to begin next week with vessel removal operations later this summer. Funding for the removal and disposal comes from the federal government’s Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund and EPA Region 9.

The vessel ran aground on rocks north of Dillon Beach when it broke loose from a towing apparatus while en route to Mexico from Puget Sound, Wash. While the vessel’s steel hull is mostly intact, petroleum products and waste onboard pose a threat to the environment.

No oiled wildlife has been observed to date.

American Challenger Coalition – Update #9

June 26, 2021

The Unified Command and contracting partners have been assessing American Challenger to determine its stability for removal. The decision was made to remove the vessel from its current location.
The response has recently accepted a proposal from a contractor for the removal and has also contracted for the wreck’s demolition and disposal shoreside.
Although no dates have been set, updates will be posted here.
(CDFW photo from June 4)