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Gotta love our Beach Drive neighbor that's responsible for prompting today's repair work along the vulnerable section of Emma Schmitz Memorial View Point.
It's been very noticeable for all who frequent this narrow sliver of park that the soil has been slowly eroding away year after year just above the concrete sea wall.
This "super neighbor" (who prefers to be un-named but for this article's sake, we'll refer to her as Mrs. Frack) started her interaction with the City of Seattle back in the middle of December. She quickly learned that the responsibility of maintaining the bulkhead and adjoining landscape belongs to the Seattle Parks Department, the sizable sewer line located directly underneath is responsibility of King County and the City of Seattle maintains the adjoining sidewalk and newly paved street:)
When a more permanent type of solution was brought up, i.e. extending the existing bulkhead type rockery located just north of where the park narrows, a representative from the parks department replied...
"any change to the existing seawall would need to be done with the approval of various environmental regulatory agencies. Note that extending the existing "bulkhead rockery", while perhaps the lowest-cost construction solution that could be pursued, is also a measure that is considered environmentally detrimental by such agencies, and might be difficult or impossible to get approved."
Well, for now, I'm happy for the temporary maintenance to this narrow section of the park and ecstatic that when Mrs. Frack locks on to a cause, there's just no saying no!
Hmmm, I wonder if she had something to do with these public work orders...
After two days of looking out our windows and watching the events unfold of salvaging Justin, the WWII vessel that was being used to assist with building a new bulkhead off of Beach Drive, it seemed refreshingly calm to only have this scene this morning.
We did wake up to flyovers from the Coast Guard to survey the area.
It didn't take too long for crews to show up to start salvaging items from the floor of Puget Sound.
It also appears that some patch repairs are being done to the vessel above (which had water pumped from it from damage this weekend). Note the diver on the smaller boat.
It looks like this anchor pole is being removed, possibly for repairs.
Update 9:40 am October 17, 11: More photos from Scupper showing the main barge that Justin was tied to showing the patch repair.
If you'd like to see all the photos that Scupper and I captured of this event, you're welcome to check them out on our Flickr page by clicking here.
Update 9:30 am, October 16, 2011: We've added a couple more of our favorite photos. We'll be posting a collection of our "Justin" photos from the past few days soon.
Scupper shivered his timbers capturing some great photos of the salvaging of the once sunk vessel off Beach Drive, Justin.
Because it's late and we typically don't blog as late as West Seattle Blog, we're going to share a few photos tonight and we'll update this tomorrow morning with more. Scupper took over 100 shots after nightfall alone and we want to select and share what we think are the best.
Here's a preview.
Justin is enroute to Tacoma per employees of Waterfront Construction.
Good news, Scupper found the owner of the hard hat that he found floating in the Sound. Hat and head will be reunited soon.
Justin is the 75 foot vessel that sank yesterday off the shores of Beach Drive causing a fuel spill in the waters of Puget Sound. It's a WWII style landing craft that was being used to carry boulders and material back and forth for construction of a bulkhead for a home located around the 5400 block of Beach Drive. We have our coverage, including photos and video posted here. We will be updating this post throughout the day. If you have photos, videos or tips you would like to share, please contact us!
This morning, they are preparing the raise Justin.
Throughout the night, the area was patrolled by the Coast Guard with their blue lights flashing. During the wee hours, a new barge with a crane has joined this attempt to fix the "Beach Drive Bulkhead Blunder". Helicopters are already flying over this morning.
Tides just passed the first high tide of 10.09 at 8:08 this morning and will be slightly heading down to a low of 6.53 at 1:43 pm followed by the next high of 9.83 at 6:43 pm. At 1:40 am tomorrow, the tide will be at a low -0.64. According to various weather reports, it should be a crisp, sunny day following some morning fog. The tides and weather appear to be in Justin's favor.
9:30 am update: The large crane is being positioned and there is a diver(s) in the water.
9:50 am update: we've noticed sheen from the fuel spill up to the shores of the 4700 block of Beach Drive (by Emma Schmitz Memorial Viewpoint).
10:20 am update: Scuppers notes that the cable that has been connected (to Justin?) has not budged in the last hour (watch the red diamond in the center of the photo).
Scupper is heading out in the BDB Zodiak to investigate how far north the fuel sheen has spread.
Update 10:30 am: the cable just pulled up something - not sure if it's a metal part from Justin, possibly a piece of it's railing?
Update 11:25 am: Scupper has returned with video showing a thicker slick north of Emma Schmitz View Point (4600 Beach Drive). We wish the media could get a shot from the air to show the current extent of the fuel slick.
A seal pops up to check out the seen.
2:10pm update: We can see Justin!
Crew has rigged up new larger strap.
Update 4:30 pm: the crew has rigged two harnesses around Justin and making adjustments, preparing to raise the sunken vessel.
The sunset will be around 6:202 tonight with the tide heading back down at 6:45pm.
5:37 pm update: We're seeing more of what appears to be Justin's cabin.
6:00 pm update: more photos of Justin as the vessel continues to be lifted from Puget Sound and of the Coast Guard helicopter that has been circling overhead.
7:15 pm update... more photos compliments of Scupper.
EDITORS NOTE: We will continue to update this post throughout the day as the story of the sunken vessel and fuel spill off of Beach Drive continues.
Two armed Coast Guard boats that typically escort Washington Ferries are cruising the shores off Beach Drive. They seem to be spending a lot of time by the crane and one of the boats has a crew member at one of the gun stations.
Update: it appears to be a water rescue off of 5411 Beach Dr SW per Seattle 9-1-1.
Update 8:34 am: it appears that "loader" type boat used in delivering rocks to this bulkhead capsized this morning. More info (and photos) to follow.
Update 8:58 am: King 5 News reports that the vessel that sank is 75 feet long and an obsorbant oil boom is being deployed. West Seattle Blog reports that no one was believed to be on board - King 5 news states it is unknown and that divers are in the water.
Update 9:05 am: it looks like this vessel sank around high tide, which was 11.1 ft at 7:30 am, we're heading towards a low tide of 6.1 at 1:00 pm.
The 75 foot vessel appeared to have been a WWII landing craft that was being used to deliver rocks for the building of the new bulkhead off Beach Drive. It sank about 100 yards from a very popular dive spot "The Rock Pile" that is rich with ling cod and other bottom fish.
Update 9:30 am: Here is a photo we captured last Wednesday which includes a landing craft, quite possibly the one that is now sank and leaving fuel.
This photo of The Justin, was taken on October 4, 2011.
Update 10:00am booms being deployed to try to contain the fuel spill.
This appears to be the back up crane that may be used in recovering the sunken vessel along with two Coast Guard ships.
Update 10:50 am: Efforts to contain the fuel spill.
Update 12:42 pm: Attempts to lift the sunk vessel are taking place with water being pumped off the crane/barge.
Looks like boats from NRC (National Resource Consultants?) are on scene to check out impacts on the environment.
It has been confirmed that no one was on board when the vessel sank. The owner of the vessel has reported there is approximately 300 gallons of diesel and 50 gallons of motor oil on board. There is an approximate 600 by 300-foot sheen on the water.
A sheen of diesel fuel this size will deteriorate as it is exposed to elements and natural wave action, but petroleum spills of any size cause environmental damage to water.
The responsible party has contracted National Response Corp. Environmental Services, which is on scene deploying boom, a skimmer and absorbent pads to contain and absorb the spill. They have also contracted divers to contain potential pollution. As the vessel was sinking, efforts were made by the responsible party to plug the fuel vents to prevent pollution.
Agencies are flying over the scene to survey the spill.
This photo just in from Scupper: "Safety is Everyone's Business"
4:50 pm update: a news truck has been parked by Emma Schmitz View Point next to an NCS dumpster.
Scupper picked up this hard hat with other trash.
Update 5:00pm: Channel 7 reports that the barge was damaged by the sinking vessel and was taking on water which is why the water was being pumped out.
KOMO-4 has footage interviewing Scupper, who was giving the media rides on the BDB Zodiak for close up views. A lot of the close-up footage is courtesy of Scupper - tune in at 6:00 and 11:00!
Update October 14, 2011: apparently the construction of this bulkhead may be involved with the 75 foot sunken vessel of Waterfront Construction, causing a fuel spill. Read Beach Drive Blog's coverage here.
Our intrepid reporter, Scupper, decided to check out the barge that was heading to a newer Beach Drive home. How often can you watch a bulkhead being built?
Earlier this week, on Monday I believe, a barge parked for a while across from MeeKwaMooks before it moved to the 4100 section of Beach Drive. Apparently it was working on the bulkhead by the condo's. It was quite a sight.
Thanks to Jan who sent in these photos this morning (sorry I didn't have a chance to post until now):
"the barge is picking up a shovel that was crating a rip-rap to strengthen a bulkhead a few doors down from us".
This could be good timing if you check ahead to the weather with a small craft advisory for tomorrow for the Puget Sound. This from the Marine Forecast:
TUE...SE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT. CHANCE OF RAIN.
TUE NIGHT...SE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT. RAIN.
WED THROUGH SAT...SE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT
Wednesday afternoon, the City of Seattle forecast currently states that we may experience wind gusts up to 40 miles per hour.
WEDNESDAY...RAIN IN THE MORNING...THEN MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS. BREEZY. HIGHS NEAR 60. SOUTH WIND 15 TO 25 MPH WITH LOCAL GUSTS TO 40 MPH.
Tuesday's high tide is an 11. 1 at 2:25 in the afternoon and Wednesday's is a 11.3 at 3:02.
"We live down in the Seola Beach Area and have had some damage to our bulkhead and drains. Can anyone recommend a company who specializes in this?"
With all the bulkheads along Beach Drive...I figure someone out there must know of a bulk head specialist--please comment here and help out a neighbor.
The Fine Print Rhonda Porter is employed at Mortgage Master Service Corporation #40445 and is an NMLS Licensed Mortgage Loan Originator MLO-121324. Learn more about your mortgage originator at www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org.
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