Historic Tugboat Sinks, Spills Fuel

The nearly century-old Chickamauga sunk, spilling fuel into the waters of Eagle Harbor, Washington.

Thought to be the first diesel-powered tugboat on the West Coast, the 70-foot wooden tug spilled about 200 gallons of red-dyed diesel fuel and engine oil into surrounding waters. Fortunately, no one was injured. 

Local firefighters received a call Wednesday morning and quickly deployed booms and containment equipment. Although divers plugged the leak, gallons of fuel polluted the waters. According to Washington’s Department of Ecology, any amount of oil spilled is harmful to the environment.

Owners of the tug, nicknamed the “Sea Chicken”, were unable to be reached. An investigation into the sinking has been launched.