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December 1, 2006

Update: Divers search Newport Harbor after boat sinks / Photo

Journal photo / Frieda Squires
The 72-foot wooden boat Hope, a day scalloper, rests on its side in Newport Harbor after sinking early this morning.

A Jamestown dive team found no one after searching the waters of Newport Harbor this morning for two people reported to be unaccounted for when a fishing vessel docked in the harbor sank.

The dive team was called at around 4 a.m. because of a report that two people had possibly been aboard the boat named Hope, which had been tied up at the N. Parascandolo and Sons dock, Newport Police Sgt. Charles Silvia said this morning. It's unclear at this time if anyone actually was on the boat.

After searching for about two hours, the dive team ended its search at 6:35 a.m., Jamestown Fire Capt. Keith Godena said.

The U.S. Coast is working in the harbor now to assess the amount of fuel that leaked into the water and to contain what’s there, Coast Guard Petty Officer Luke Pinneo said. They don’t know yet whether the fuel is concentrated enough that they’ll be able to clean it up, he said.

Investigators have been told that 1,000 gallons of diesel was on board the boat, but all of that may not have leaked out of the boat’s fuel tanks, Pinneo said.

The boat’s owner is apparently considering hiring a diver to plug up vents on the boat to stop the fuel leak, Pinneo said.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Kate Bramson  at 1:35 PM | Permalink

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Kimberly Houser | December 4, 2006 6:34 PM link

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