Historic WWII-Era Yacht Sinks in Sinclair Inlet, USCG Responds

Sinking yacht — Image for representation purposes only

A unified command has been formed to deal with the sinking of a historic 108-foot yacht in Sinclair Inlet near Bremerton, Washington. The U.S. Coast Guard is leading the effort along with the Washington Department of Ecology and the Washington Department of Natural Resources.

Officials said the yacht, Cairdeas, sank over the weekend and is now a pollution threat. The Coast Guard accessed the federal Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund and hired an oil spill response company to manage the emergency.

So far, about 2,600 feet of protective boom has been deployed, and divers have plugged the vessel’s fuel vents to prevent further leakage. Crews from the Coast Guard and Washington Department of Ecology are also assessing whether the shoreline or wildlife have been harmed.

Mariners have been asked to avoid the response zone in Sinclair Inlet and keep clear of equipment. The Coast Guard has advised vessels in the area to monitor VHF Channel 16 for updates and safety broadcasts.

Cairdeas is a 108-foot wooden-hulled yacht built in 1943 at the Fellows & Stewart Yard and designed by the well-known naval architecture firm Sparkman & Stephens. Once considered a classic, the yacht had a glamorous past, including a stint under charter to Warner Brothers for movie projects. According to a 1994 feature in the Anacortes American, Hollywood stars like Faye Dunaway and Jack Nicholson were among those hosted onboard during her peak years.

The yacht has faced several misfortunes. In 1973, it burned to the waterline but was rebuilt with an aluminum superstructure. In 1993, it sank while moored on the Fraser River in British Columbia, which destroyed its original fittings. Despite these setbacks, it was restored each time and returned to service.

Per reports, the yacht sat idle for long stretches in Sinclair Inlet. The state declared her abandoned in 2023, and she ran aground during a windstorm last year. This past Sunday, the Coast Guard received initial reports that she was sinking, and she ultimately went down completely.

Cairdeas now rests on the seabed of Sinclair Inlet, where efforts are focused on stopping possible oil pollution. The unified command said operations will continue until the vessel is stabilised and risks are managed.

Reference: USCG

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