Privateer near North Jetty aided by low tide

Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Levi Read - Salvage experts attached lines and cables to the beached vessel "Privateer" as they prepared to attempt to move the vessel further ashore to help speed up salvage operations on May 10, 2016.

The operation to salvage a beached Privateer wreckage began over the weekend of May 7 during low tides so that the 74 foot vessel could be accessed.

The boat originally sank in April after the crew members that were aboard the wreckage were rescued. The vessel did not have any product aboard the time of it's sinking, and had a 6,000 gallon capacity.

The boat was observed to be leaking oil of some sort as a rainbow sheen was observed in the waters surrounding the boat and the crew aboard the ship at the time reported a hole that was 8 to 12 inches around.

Response contractor and salvage company Global Diving and Salvage was hired to do the work and the Washington Department of Ecology was on site to monitor the operations.

In order to deal with the oil in the water, absorbents were placed in the vessel to soak up as much oil as possible and keep it from getting into water and onto the beach. The public is asked to stay a safe distance from the equipment and workers on the beach near the vessel.