Famous Ocean Cleanup Sailboat ‘Kaisei’ Sinks At Oakland Estuary

A well-known sailing ship once used for ocean cleanup missions sank on Sunday evening in the Oakland Estuary, prompting a major emergency and environmental response.

The incident happened around 6:13 p.m. near the 2500 block of Blanding Avenue in Alameda. The Alameda Fire Department received multiple reports about a large vessel taking on water.

When crews arrived, they found a massive, steel-hulled clipper-style sailboat, later identified as the SV Kaisei, almost fully submerged while still moored at the dock.

The sailboat, approximately 150 feet long and built in Poland in 1989, has been tied up near the Nob Hill Foods parking lot for years. It has a steel hull and was designed for international missions, originally used in Japan before being acquired by California-based nonprofit Ocean Voyages Institute.

Fire crews quickly used their fireboat to move a nearby vessel to safety and then cut the sinking Kaisei free from the dock to prevent it from dragging the dock or pilings down with it.

The Alameda Fire Department worked with the Oakland Fire Department to place a floating boom around the ship to prevent diesel fuel or debris from spreading in the water.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed that the boat contained around 400 gallons of diesel, but divers and authorities believe most of the fuel is still sealed in the tanks. A small leak did occur, but it was controlled with the quick placement of containment booms.

Officials with the state wildlife department explained that due to changing tides in the estuary, the ship’s position on the seafloor could shift at any moment.

The ship now sits completely underwater, with only the tall masts leaning toward the shore still visible. The area has been cordoned off to the public because of potential safety risks.

A diver with Power Divers, the salvage company hired for the recovery, said the water had near-zero visibility. The diver spent Monday inspecting the situation and reported that the focus was on safely removing the remaining fuel before any attempt to raise the vessel.

The diver stated that the boat was extremely large and heavy, and lifting it would require a crane barge and heavy rigging to bring it above waterline so it could be pumped out.

The Kaisei, which means “Sea Star” in Japanese, became a symbol of environmental effort when it was used by the Ocean Voyages Institute for several missions to the North Pacific Gyre, often called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

The ship took part in major expeditions in 2009, 2011, and 2012 to study and remove ocean plastic. It was also used for educational cruises before being docked in Alameda.

Locals said the boat had not moved for nearly five years. One Alameda resident recalled that her partner had long believed the vessel would eventually sink. Another bystander mentioned that they were parked nearby on Sunday evening and watched the boat go down before taking photos of the incident.

The Coast Guard confirmed that although the vessel is not currently a navigation hazard, it is monitoring the situation and will oversee the salvage plan to ensure all environmental regulations are followed.

So far, the cause of the sinking remains unclear. However, the Ocean Voyages Institute suspects the vessel may have been struck by something large.

Cleanup and salvage operations are underway under the supervision of local and state agencies, including the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The priority remains preventing further fuel leakage and safely removing the vessel from the estuary floor.

The timeline for recovery remains uncertain. According to the salvage diver, it could take anywhere from a few days to several weeks depending on conditions and equipment availability.

The U.S. Coast Guard, Alameda Fire Department, Oakland Fire Department, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife are continuing to coordinate efforts, while all required environmental and safety notifications have been made.

References: cbsnews, Alameda Fire Department

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