Boat Found Sinking And Leaking Oil At Local Marina

A boat was found sinking and leaking oil early this morning at a local marina in Forked River.

Officer Vincent Meehan of the Lacey Township Police Department discovered a 29-foot cabin cruiser, owned by a Lanoka Harbor resident, sinking at Southwinds Harbor Marina, Lieutenant Scott Tirella said.

At approximately 6:50 a.m. the Forked River Fire Department responded to the scene and the boat was submerged in the Barnegat Bay and was leaking oil and gasoline from the engine, Chief Kevin Flynn of the Forked River Fire Department said.

The Berkeley Emergency Response Team responded to contain the spill, Flynn said.

Once the spill was contained, the State Marine Police took care of the boat, Flynn said.

The state marine police continue to investigate the incident and the Department of Environmental Protection was notified.

This is the second boat to cause a spill in Lacey Township in two weeks. On Sunday, Aug. 7 a boat leaked diesel fuel into the Forked River near the Captain’s Inn, Petty Officer Jonathan Lindberg of the U.S. Coast Guard said.

The boat left the area when the spill, which was originally 500 feet by 15 feet, occurred, Lindberg said.

Continue to follow Lacey Patch as more information becomes available.