Ocean-cleaning ship containing 400 gallons of diesel sinks in Oakland Estuary
A ship known for its missions to raise awareness about the problem of marine debris sank Sunday in the Oakland Estuary, authorities said.
The Kaisei, a large double-masted sailing vessel, sank at a dock behind the Nob Hill Foods grocery store in Alameda shortly after 6 p.m., said U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Kenneth Wiese, a spokesperson for the agency.
Wiese said the approximately 100-foot ship is owned by the Ocean Voyages Institute. A Sausalito nonprofit founded in 1979, it has run ocean cleanup operations, according to its website.
The Kaisei is the namesake of the nonprofit's Kaisei Project, focused on cleaning the ocean of marine debris, trash and plastics. The ship sailed on three scientific voyages to an area often called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
It's unclear what caused the Kaisei to sink.
Someone on land saw the boat sinking and called the authorities, Wiese said. Multiple agencies, including from Oakland and Alameda, responded and were able to cut its mooring lines so that the ship did not bring down the dock with it.
The ship was not blocking traffic on the channel since it sank in place at the dock, Wiese said. However, it appeared to be leaking an oil-like substance. The vessel is estimated to carry 400 gallons of diesel fuel onboard, Wiese said.
'It looked hazardous,' he said.
A City of Alameda Fire Department post on X said firefighters on their fire boat had worked to protect surrounding vessels and had deployed a floating boom to prevent oil spread.
A person who answered the phone at a number associated with the Kaisei Project told the Chronicle he believed 'something hit' the vessel and that the situation was being addressed.
Wiese said the next steps are for the owner, its contractor and insurance to figure out what to do with the ship, which could include repairing or removing it.
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