Deep Sea leaves Penn Cove under tow

Under tow, the fishing vessel Deep Sea begins its journey out of Penn Cove and on to a dry dock in Ballard. - Justin Burnett / Whidbey News-Times
Justin Burnett / Whidbey News-Times
Under tow, the fishing vessel Deep Sea begins its journey out of Penn Cove and on to a dry dock in Ballard.

By JUSTIN BURNETT
Whidbey News Times Staff reporter
June 6, 2012 · Updated 12:31 PM 

As planned, the fishing vessel Deep Sea was towed out of Penn Cove this morning and is on its way to a dry dock in Ballard.

The ship departed promptly at 5 a.m. under tow by the tugboat Taurus. Traveling at about six knots, they are expected to arrive at the Chittenden Locks in Seattle by early afternoon.

The 128-foot crab boat will then be delivered to Stabbert Yacht and Ship dry dock for dismantling.

The Deep Sea arrived in Penn Cove by tow in December. The vessel sat at anchor just outside Penn Cove Shellfish's mussel rafts for the next four months until it caught fire and then sank, May 13.

The vessel spent three weeks on the bottom before it was raised this past Sunday. More than 5,000 gallons of diesel fuel was recovered from the ship and the surface, prompting the closure of shellfish harvesting.

Although state regulators opened part of the fishery for harvest late Tuesday, the rafts closest to the spot where the Deep Sea sank remain closed.

Contact Whidbey News Times Staff reporter Justin Burnett at jburnett@whidbeynewsgroup.com or 360-675-6611 ext. 5054.

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